Spring break is getting creative at the Museum of the American Revolution.
The cultural institution is not only welcoming a new showcase—’Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags’— it’s also scheduling a slew of creative family fun from April 12 to 27.
‘Banners of Liberty’ specifically will open to the public on April 19, which also happens to be the Museum’s 8th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The exhibit features more than a dozen Revolutionary War flags, making it the largest gathering of rare and significant flags of its kind in more than two centuries. As a release notes, of the hundreds of flags made and carried in the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) by the Continental Army and American militia, only about 30 are known to survive.
On April 19, the MoAR will host a free public opening event (from 10:15 to 11 a.m.) with performances from the Central York Middle School Colonial Fife and Drum Corps, a presentation of colors, and remarks by Museum officials and elected leaders.
Other spring break daily activities at the venue start on April 12. While there, locals can design their own flag in the museum’s rotunda (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or check out the exhibit, ‘On Display: True Colours Flag Project.’ With the latter, visitors can check out the MoAR’s hand sewn, replica of “suit of colours” and learn more about the process of recreating — and the history behind — these huge flags flown by 18th-century ships at sea during the Revolutionary War (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Philadelphians can also check out the venue’s ’10-Minute Talk: My Favorite Object’ where a Museum educator discusses some of their favorite objects on display (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), or chat at the Discovery Cart with Rebecca Flower Young, who owned a flag shop here in Philadelphia. With the Cart, visitors are able to view replica objects and learn more about Young’s work as a military contractor making flags and drum cases for the Continental Army.
There are also a few tours to check out for spring break at the MoAR. The ’60-minute Highlights Tour’ (Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.) explores the Museum’s core exhibit galleries and delves into diverse groups of people living in North America during the American Revolution (including Loyalists, Hessians, free and enslaved people of African descent, women at home and at war, and other Revolutionaries.)
Another option, the ‘Outdoor Walking Tour: Revolutionary City’ (Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.) offers a 1.5-hour guided tour covering stops outside iconic sites including City Tavern, Independence Hall, and Carpenters’ Hall to discuss the experiences of everyday people in the Revolutionary era. And lastly, the ‘Gallery Highlights Tour: Black Voices of the Revolution’ (Saturdays and Sundays at noon) holds a 60-minute tour of the core exhibit galleries highlighting a diverse set of stories, experiences, and objects related to people of African descent during the American Revolution.
To find out more on everything happening this spring at the Museum of the American Revolution (101 S 3rd St.), visit amrevmuseum.org
