Salute the Revolutionary Women in Your Life this Mother’s Day Weekend at the Museum of the American Revolution

View Banners of Liberty, Enjoy Special Programming, and Get a Free Carnation on Mother’s Day

This Mother’s Day Weekend, Saturday, May 10 – Sunday, May 11, 2025, join us at the Museum of the American Revolution to celebrate the inspiring, trailblazing women who played vital roles during the Revolutionary War – from flag makers to camp followers to an American prisoner-of-war. Don’t forget to pick up a free carnation courtesy of the Museum on Sunday, May 12, to wish a happy Mother’s Day to the revolutionary woman in your life.

During your visit, be sure to check out our new special exhibition, Banners of Liberty: An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags, and special programming for the whole family. The exhibition brings together 17 total flags, including 16 from the Revolutionary era – the largest collection of such flags in more than two centuries. Banners of Liberty will be on view exclusively at the Museum through Aug. 10, 2025 in the first-floor Patriots Gallery, and is included with regular Museum admission.

Also on display will be a sketch that is the second-known depiction of Continental Army camp followers – women and children who traveled alongside fighters on both sides of the Revolutionary War – done by an eyewitness, on view starting May 9. The sketch was donated to the Museum in 2023.

Mother’s Day Weekend Highlights:

Banners of Liberty Special Exhibition | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Of the hundreds of flags made and carried in the Revolutionary War by soldiers fighting for the American cause, only about 30 are known to survive today. Working with institutional and private lenders, the Museum has gathered original flags present at military campaigns stretching from northern New England to South Carolina. These artistically embellished flags employed colors and designs to represent political ideals and a growing national identity, as well as to instill "esprit de corps" within military units. For America’s Revolutionary generation, the flags that flew over their regiments and ships or were carried through their towns to battle were perhaps the first visual expressions of liberty and independence that they saw.

Mother’s Day Card Craft in Revolution Place | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Explore Revolution Place, the Museum’s family-friendly discovery center, which is newly renovated and now conveniently located on the Museum’s first floor. Revolution Place brings to life Old City’s lively, diverse neighborhood during the1700s and invites visitors to learn through hands-on exploration. Kids of all ages can immerse themselves in four historical environments – a military encampment, a tavern, a parlor, and an 18th-century meeting house – to experience the places where the American Revolution took root. Don't miss your chance to try your hand at scherenschnitte – German paper-cutting craft – to make and take home a Mother’s Day card. 

Make Your Own Pincushion Craft Activity | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Join an educator in the Museum’s rotunda to learn how to sew a pincushion based on examples from the 18th century.

Discovery Cart: Rebecca Flower Young | Daily

Flag maker Rebecca Flower Young advertised “all kinds of colours” for the Revolutionary cause from her shop here in Philadelphia. Meet a Museum educator to view replica objects and learn more about Young’s work as a military contractor making flags and drum cases for the Continental Army. 

10-Minute Talk: The Baroness von Riesdesel | Daily

Enjoy a 10-minute pop-up talk to learn the fascinating but little-known story of the Baroness von Riedesel, who crossed the Atlantic with her three young children to follow Hessian troops, including her husband who commanded Brunswick forces with the British army. She became an American prisoner-of-war and left behind a diary of her experiences, providing a unique perspective on the war beyond the well-known stories taught in school.

Eyewitness Sketch of the Continental Army | Daily

View an eyewitness pen-and-ink sketch of Continental Army soldiers and camp followers, the first wartime depiction of North Carolina troops known to exist. The sketch provides a look at the everyday life of the Continental Army, as well as the women who traveled with them.

First Person Performance: Meet Elizabeth Freeman | Saturday, May 10 at 1:40 p.m.

Watch a 30-minute filmed 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 Tiffany Bacon as Elizabeth Freeman and was written by Teresa Miller.

Find a Perfect Mother’s Day Gift | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Online, Any Time

Find one-of-a-kind gifts at the Museum Shop onsite or online. From a mug bearing Abigail Adams’ call to “Remember the Ladies” and Martha Washington's cacao tea to a 13 original states bracelet and so much more, the Museum Shop has something for everyone.

Gallery Guide: Celebrating Revolutionary Women | Onsite and Online, Any Time

Pick up or download a gallery guide to lead you through the personal stories of the diverse women of the Revolutionary era featured in the Museum's galleries. Learn about remarkable women such as Phillis Wheatley, Baroness Frederika von Riedesel, Tyonajanegen (Two Kettles Together), and more.

The Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Current special exhibit Banners of Liberty is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 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.

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.