Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at the Museum With New Special Exhibition, Programming, Resources, and More

Learn About America’s First Allies, Those to Recognize Our Declaration in The Declaration’s Journey  

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month at the Museum of the American Revolution this November with explorations of Native American history, culture, and their role in the American Revolution through our new exhibition, daily and special programs, in-gallery and online resources, and more. 

Throughout the month, be sure to explore our core galleries as well as our newest special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, to learn about the Native American nations that were the first foreign powers to formally acknowledge the independence of the United States, become allies with the U.S. during the Revolutionary War, and continued to play pivotal roles throughout American history. Objects on view in The Declaration’s Journey include a copy of the Treaty of Watertown, on loan from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University; a letter written to President Abraham Lincoln by Chief John Ross of the Cherokee Nation explaining the political division in the tribe during the American Civil War, on loan from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History; as well as a proclamation of pardon written by Lincoln after some Cherokee leaders had sided with the Confederacy, on loan from the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. 

Additional Native American Heritage Month Highlights Include: 

Meet White Eyes at Revolutionary Philadelphia: 1775 | Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 2., 2025, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

During the Museum’s reimagined living history interpretation event, Revolutionary Philadelphia: 1775, visitors will have the chance to learn about White Eyes, a Lenape leader who arrived in Philadelphia in December 1775 to act as a liaison to the Continental Congress and advocate for diplomatic relations and for the Lenape. DJ Huff of the Seneca Nation of Indians will interpret White Eyes through dress and other cultural expertise at the event. Visitors can enrich their experience by also viewing the manuscript of the original speech given by White Eyes to the Congress in 1776 outlining Lenape desire for peace and allyship, on view at the American Philosophical Society as part of its Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City exhibition. 

10-Minute, In-Gallery Talk: Louis Cook | Daily at 12:30 p.m. 

Join a Museum educator in the Museum's core galleries for a 10-minute talk to learn about Akiatonharónkwen (Louis Cook), one of the highest-ranking Native American officers in the Continental forces during the Revolutionary War.  

Discovery Cart: Native Americans in the Revolution | Daily from 1:30 – 2 p.m. 

Join a Museum educator at a discovery cart featuring replica artifacts and documents to learn about Tyonajanegen (Two Kettles Together), an Oneida woman who participated in the Battle of Oriskany during the Saratoga Campaign. 

"The People of the Standing Stone" Film | Daily at 3:30 p.m. 

"The People of the Standing Stone" explores the crucial but little-known history of the extraordinary contributions of one Native American people who chose to commit themselves to the Revolutionary cause when nearly all others fought on the side of the British during America’s War for Independence. The moving 25-minute film was directed by Emmy Award-winning director Ric Burns and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner. 

In-Gallery and Digital Resources | Onsite and Online  

• Meet the Figures: Oneida Nation Theater
  Meet people of the Oneida Nation in the midst of a debate about how they will engage in the Revolutionary War. A film and six life-cast figures, bring the discussion to life at the Museum's Oneida Nation Theater. Each of the figures is based on a real Oneida person and dressed in garments representative of what these people wore in the 1770s, combining Native fashion and Euro-American textiles and trade goods. Their words are drawn from a variety of sources and written in the style apparent in recorded Native American speeches, treaty negotiations, and conversations.
• The People Between: Native Americans in a Revolutionary Era Gallery Guide
  More than 250,000 Native Americans lived east of the Mississippi River during the Revolutionary era. They formed more than 80 nations and spoke dozens of languages. The decades of political turmoil and warfare that divided Great Britain and its colonies and led to the creation of the United States profoundly affected native people.
• Read About Native American Declarations in the 20th Century
  Expanding on themes presented in The Declaration’s Journey, Throughout the 20th century, multiple tribes (Tonawanda Council, Gros Ventre, Blackfeet) have directly invoked the Declaration to demand sovereignty

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Declaration’s Journey is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily and is included with regular Museum admission. Tickets to the Museum can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at AmRevMuseum.org, or at the front desk. Save $2 per adult ticket by purchasing online. Kids ages 5 and under are always free. All tickets are valid for two consecutive days. 

The Museum's Native American Interpretive Program is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. 

About Museum of the American Revolution 

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 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 on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.