The Museum of the American Revolution is welcoming eight local students to participate in this year’s ‘Living History Youth Summer Institute,’ a six-week in-depth course designed for young adults who have an interest in understanding more about the lives of people of African ancestry during the American Revolution.
This year, the Summer Institute will educate students on enslaved and free people of African descent in the context of the American Revolution while also introducing them to the museum field and live costumed interpretation.
Over the course of the summer, the students selected will have the opportunity to learn more about some of the Museum’s many popular programs. Witness to Revolution: The Unlikely Travels of Washington’s War Tent, a special exhibit by the Museum, the Black Voices of the Revolution gallery highlights tour, and the Meet the Revolution costumed living history series are all among the programs students will have the opportunity to discover. Students will also learn more about historical costuming, museum careers, and historical empathy by attending workshops facilitated by Museum staff and guest speakers.
The program also includes weekly offsite research trips. Participants will be able to visit sites like the Old Barracks Museum, the Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, the Betsy Ross House, Mother Bethel AME Church, Richard Allen Museum, and they will also visit Historic Germantown in Philadelphia.
“We are fortunate to have an outstanding group of young people who are fully engaged and significantly contributing to all facets of this year’s Living History Youth Summer Institute,” said Michael Idriss, the Museum’s African American Interpretive Program Manager. “It has been a blast to watch them gain knowledge about historical costumed interpretation, career paths in the Museum field, and the importance of being a good storyteller, especially in communicating the work of both free and enslaved people of African descent. I’m impressed by their quick progress and proud to be working with them.”
The summer institute will finish with a free event open to the public featuring the Museum’s replica of George Washington’s Revolutionary War encampment. Students will set up the encampment, dress in Revolutionary War-era garb, and join the Museum staff in a demonstration of what life was like for Washington, the soldiers, and more, including free and enslaved people who traveled with him on the campaign.
“Throughout history, people of African descent have played a central role in shaping the history of the United States and distinguishing themselves in service to our nation,” said Johnny F. Carawan, Trail Administrator for the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, a sponsor of the program. “The National Park Service is proud to partner with the Museum of the American Revolution in support of these young adults, who’ve expressed interest in interpreting the lives of people of African ancestry in the Revolutionary era and helping to amplify the stories of Black history to our country.”
