Celebrate the Lives, Impact of Diverse Revolutionaries During Black History Month at the Museum of the American Revolution

Special Exhibition The Declaration’s Journey Features Artifacts from Frederick Douglass, Absalom Jones, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and More  

Celebrate Black History Month and the stories of Revolutionaries of African descent at the Museum of the American Revolution this February. Visitors can explore the details of rights movements led by notable Black Americans and international leaders who have shaped the course of history over the last 250 years.     

Our current special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, presented by Griffin Catalyst, features the impact of Black historical leaders who referenced the Declaration of Independence in their quest for civil rights and freedom. Objects on display include a copy of the Haitian Declaration of Independence, on loan from Duke University’s Rubenstein Library; a printing of Frederick Douglass’s oration “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” on loan from Gilder Lehrman; an official State Department printing of the Emancipation Proclamation, on loan from Gilder Lehrman; a 1799 petition to Congress from Absalom Jones, Richard Allen, and other free Black Philadelphians fighting for the abolition of the slave trade, on loan from the National Archives and Records Administration, and more.   

"Celebrating stories of people of African descent – their diversity, complexity, and contributions to our nation – is something we do every day at the Museum,” said Adrienne Whaley, Director of Education and Community Engagement. “But we are especially excited to lift these stories up during the nation's Semiquincentennial year and to use the documents and objects in The Declaration's Journey to put these stories in conversation with a global history of the Declaration of Independence." 

Other Black History Month Highlights: 

“It Begins with Each of Us: Fostering Racial Understanding” Forum | Feb. 7, 1 – 3:30 p.m.

In collaboration with the Dennis Farm Charitable Land Trust (DFCLT), the Museum will host the ninth annual forum, a candid conversation about race in our nation’s history. This year’s theme, “America’s 250th: Still on the Journey,” uses the Museum’s current special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, to showcase how the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence creates an important opportunity for all Americans to both remember the past and prepare for the future. 

Read the Revolution Speaker Series with Julia Gaffield and Marlene L. Daut | Feb. 25, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Julia Gaffield, Associate Professor of History at William & Mary, and Dr. Marlene L. Daut, Professor of French and African Diaspora Studies at Yale University, will join the Museum for a joint lecture and discussion inspired by their recent biographies on Haitian Revolutionaries and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. 

Gallery Talk: Seeking Freedom to Civil Rights | Daily, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Explore the stories of people of African descent featured in The Declaration's Journey, from the Revolutionary era through the Civil Rights Movement. 

Gallery Talk: Phillis Wheatley | Daily, 12:30 p.m.

Join a Museum educator to discuss the life and work of Phillis Wheatley and consider the impact her story has today. 

First-Person Performance: Meet Elizabeth Freeman | Daily, 1:15 and 3:15 p.m. 

Watch a 30-minute first-person theatrical performance portraying the life and experiences of Elizabeth Freeman, also known as Mumbet, a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won. The performance stars Katelyn E. Appiah-Kubi as Elizabeth Freeman and was written by Teresa Miller. 

Gallery Talk: Finding Freedom | Weekdays, 1:30 p.m.

Join an educator for an in-gallery talk focusing on the stories of people of African descent in the Museum's galleries. 

Elizabeth Freeman Discovery Cart | Weekends

Join a Museum educator at a hands-on discovery cart to explore the story of Elizabeth Freeman through replica handling objects. Freeman was a Massachusetts woman who sued for her freedom from enslavement and won. 

Black Voices of the Revolution Gallery Tour | Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. 

Join a Museum educator for this 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. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased here.  

All Black History Month activities are included with regular Museum admission unless otherwise noted. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 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.  

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.