Pride Month and Flag Day Weekend Observed with Special Artifact Features and Programming This June

View Early Pride Flag Signed by Original Artist on Display in The Declaration’s Journey 

The Museum of the American Revolution will feature exciting artifact displays and daily programming to mark both Pride Month and Flag Day Weekend this June.

Relevant to the June programming is an example of the initial design for the Pride flag signed by artist Gilbert Baker, on loan from Mark Segal and on display in our current special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey. Harvey Milk encouraged Baker to come up with a symbol of Gay Pride, hence this example of the early design. The first Pride flags flew at Gay Freedom Day in San Francisco in 1978, and in recent years, other colors have been added to make the flag more inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community. Also, enjoy daily 10-minute talks to learn more about Milk’s advocacy and how the LGBTQ+ movement began, and view other relevant objects on display in the special exhibition, including a piece of the patterned tin ceiling of the Stonewall Inn, on loan from the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center. 

Additionally, back by popular demand, the Museum’s 90-minute, outdoor Public Universal Friend Walking Tour will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturdays in the month of June. Stopping at various sites in our Old City Philadelphia neighborhood including Elfreth’s Alley and Carpenters’ Hall, explore the revolutionary story of the self-proclaimed Public Universal Friend, a nonbinary leader of a new religion in the 1770s. More information and tickets available here. 

For Flag Day Weekend, June 13-14, enjoy the annual unfurling of our True Colours Project —the huge, stunning handsewn replicas of flags flown by 18th-century ships at sea during the Revolutionary War, which the Museum puts on view every summer since 2021 in our Oneida Indian Nation Atrium. In a daily 10-minute talk, learn more about the process of recreating — and the history behind — this “suit of colours.” 

Pride Month Highlights: 

The Public Universal Friend Walking Tour | Saturdays at 11 a.m. 

Join a Museum educator on this 90-minute walking tour exploring the life of the Public Universal Friend, an evangelist for a new faith who claimed to be a genderless divine spirit, and preached in Philadelphia in the 18th century. Hoping the message would do well amongst the city’s Quaker population, the Public Universal Friend became a nonbinary leader of a new religion in the 1770s. This walking tour covers about a mile and stops at iconic places like Elfreth’s Alley, Carpenters’ Hall, and the site of diarist and Quaker Elizabeth Drinker's home to discuss how the Revolution in Philadelphia provided people like the Public Universal Friend opportunities to test boundaries and challenge the social norms of a rapidly changing society. Tickets for the walking tour only are $34 ($24 for Members), but only $45 when packaged with Museum admission. They are available here. 

10-Minute Talk: Pride and Progress | Daily at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM (outside of June 19-21) 

Discover the stories of Harvey Milk and the Stonewall Uprising to learn more about how the LGBTQ+ movement began in our current special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey. 

Gallery Talk: Revolutionary Fashion | Weekdays at 1:30 p.m. (starting June 15) 

Explore how clothing was used to make political or personal statements as well as signify – or defy – gender roles in the 18th century, much like today. Led by a Museum educator, this discussion showcases how clothing was used to differentiate military rank as well as civilians and children of different classes, background, and regions. These stories and points are illustrated through the Museum’s many “tableau” displays, which bring history to life through life-cast figures, recreated environments and carefully reproduced clothing of the time. 

Flag Day Weekend Highlights: 

10-Minute Talk: True Colours Flags | Daily at 12:30 p.m. 

Join an educator to learn more about the Museum’s handsewn, replica “suit of colours." Discover how the Museum went through the process of recreating — and the history behind — these flags flown by 18th-century ships at sea during the Revolutionary War.  

Artisans and Makers Discovery Cart | Daily from 11-3 p.m. 

Join an educator and explore and learn about various trades and tradespeople from the Revolutionary era through the use of reproduction handling objects. Learn more about how these artisans and tradespeople may have also supplied supplies for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. 

Meet the Woodworkers | Daily 

Join costumed interpreters Andrew De Lisle and Aaron Walker for hands-on demonstrations of the tools and trades of the craftspeople who produced wheels, wagons, and wooden objects in the Revolutionary era.   

Make Your Own Flag Craft | Daily 

Most flags that exist today are designed to signify something about the place or people that they represent. Often these can be a shared history, culture, or religion, which people express through their choices in flag colors and shapes. Create your own flag in our family discovery center, Revolution Place, to represent where you live! 

Tickets are available online at go.amrevmuseum.org. Unless otherwise noted, all Pride Month and Flag Day Weekend programming is included with regular Museum admission. The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. until June 12. Starting June 13, the Museum will have extended summer hours from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. The Declaration’s Journey, presented by Griffin Catalyst, is open daily during regular Museum hours and is included with regular Museum admission. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215.253.6731, at AmRevMuseum.org, or at the front desk. Save $2 per adult ticket by purchasing online. Children 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.