Museum of the American Revolution

101 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia

Website: amrevmuseum.org

Discussion with Aimee Newell, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, and Adrienne Whaley, Director of Education and Community Engagement

About: The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and they feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened in 2017, is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.

Key Takeaways

What best practices can we learn from the Museum of the American Revolution?

• Dealing with critical topics, past and present: The Museum addresses critical, current topics head on—such as taking down Confederate monuments—in comparing events surrounding 1776 to modern day.

• Prompting visitors to ask questions: The first room in “The Road to Independence,” a core exhibition, includes King George’s statue being taken down in New York. The exhibit prompts visitors to consider: What made the colonists so angry with the king? Who took these actions? How does this compare to what is happening today?

• Addressing historical trauma: The Museum handles historical trauma in several ways. Exhibits recount the stories of colonist men and women, Native Americans, and enslaved individuals—all through firsthand accounts. Docents, available at all times, are trained to handle questions from visitors whose thoughts about history may not yet be fully formed or who may be traumatized by content. The Museum strives to be nonpartisan, but they are not apolitical, and serve as co-learners, alongside visitors, to unpack different topics and aim for engagement.

• Creating immersive experiences: Museum exhibits immerse visitors in history. An introduction, for example, begins with the first reading of the Declaration of Independence, heightening the sense of immersion. In general throughout, objects are interactive on multiple levels, through sight but also sound, touch, and even smell—as well as through touchscreen models (virtual reality). Reproductions like a model ship and model of a gun convey the look and feel of what these objects were like, along with other life-size figures/models. Washington’s War Tent, set up on display, is presented to the audience in a theater show with narration, film, and dramatic lighting effects. Exhibits enable visitors of all ages to ask questions and experience some of what it was like to live through the Revolutionary War.