Museum of the American Revolution Wins Webby Award for “Finding Freedom” Online Experience

“Finding Freedom” Explores the Lives and Choices of Five People of African Descent During the Revolutionary War 

The Museum of the American Revolution today announces that Finding Freedom, our online interactive that explores the lives of five people of African descent during the Revolutionary War, has been named the People’s Voice Winner for Websites & Mobile Sites, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in the 30th Annual Webby Awards Internet Celebration. This recognition follows Finding Freedom’s previous bronze-level MUSE Award in 2021 and silver-level Anthem Award in 2022.

Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. 

“We are thrilled to win our first Webby Award for Finding Freedom, a storytelling tool that has made a huge impression and impact on both our onsite and online audiences from around the world,” said Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution.  

Launched online in October 2020 after beginning as a touchscreen experience in the Museum’s galleries, Finding Freedom animates the deeply researched stories of five men and women of African descent living in Virginia in 1781. The interactive, which has had nearly 1.5 million pageviews since launch, conveys a fuller representation of American history and invites greater understanding of the decisions made by Black people of the time period for all users.  

The online interactive is free and accessible to anyone with an internet connection. The Museum worked with digital product agency AREA 17 to translate the touchscreen experience from the Museum’s galleries (created with Philadelphia’s Bluecadet) into a web application that could be accessed by students, educators, and other learners anywhere. In 2025, the Museum also upgraded the interactive to be section 508 compliant, and enriched it with audio voiced by African American voice actors from Virginia to make the interactive's content more dynamic, engaging, and accessible. 

Through powerful, historically accurate watercolor illustrations by Wood Ronsaville Harlan, Inc. (later used in projects such as “The American Revolution” documentary series on PBS) as well as dramatized first-person narratives, the online interactive encourages users to consider the difficult choices that enslaved and free people of African descent had to make when there was no clear route to freedom, safety, or equal rights during the Revolutionary War. The narratives were created using primary sources ranging from pension records to newspaper ads, period maps and broadsides, surviving objects, works of art, court records, and correspondence.

The online experience includes teacher resources that incorporate modular activities, ready-made worksheets, “Big Idea” essays, timelines, glossaries, and primary sources. The Museum also offers free professional development workshops for educators that delve deeper into Finding Freedom to prepare teachers to use it in their classrooms. 

“At the Museum, we are committed to lifting up the stories of people who have traditionally been left out of the nation’s founding narrative,” said Adrienne G. Whaley, Director of Education and Community Engagement. “Innovative digital initiatives like Finding Freedom are a key way that we bring those unique and powerful stories to life for teachers, students, and digital explorers of all backgrounds.”

Finding Freedom is part of the Museum’s website, amrevmuseum.org, which was named a 2021 Webby Honoree in the category of Best Websites and Mobile Sites for Cultural Institutions earlier this year. Winners for the 30th Annual Webby Awards were announced on April 21, 2026, and will be honored in New York City on May 11. 

Finding Freedom is made possible with generous support from The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation. 

About The Webby Awards 

Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video; Advertising, Media & PR; Apps & Software; Social; Games; Podcasts; Creators and AI. Established in 1996, The Webby Awards received over 13,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries worldwide this year. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include Adobe, WP Engine, Meltwater, Patreon, NAACP, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, Deadline, AdAge, TechCrunch, The Hollywood Reporter, SXSW, Scalable, and The Society of Digital Agencies. 

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.