Start Your Semiquincentennial Celebration Early With the Whole Family This Thanksgiving Weekend at the Museum, Nov. 28-30

The Declaration’s Journey Showcases How U.S. Declaration Inspired Native Americans’ Fight for Independence 

Museum Voted Best Attraction and Best Place to Take Visitors in the 2025 Philadelphia Inquirer Philly Favorites 

The Museum of the American Revolution will celebrate Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday, Nov. 28 – Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, with a slate of events, theatrical performances, family-friendly activities and talks that provide fun for the whole family and a memorable experience for visitors. The Museum will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. 

Visitors can explore the Museum’s newest special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, now open to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The special exhibition also highlights Native American nations as the first foreign powers to formally recognize the independence of the United States, their allyship with the U.S. during the Revolutionary War, and their pivotal role throughout history.   

Other Thanksgiving Weekend Highlights:  

First-Person Performance: Meet Elizabeth Freeman | Nov. 29-30 at 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. 

10-Minute Talk: Objects of Reflection | Daily at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.   

What did the Declaration of Independence mean in 1776 compared to 1963? Join an educator to learn more about two objects in the exhibition!

10-Minute Talk: Akiatonharonkwen (Louis Cook) | Daily at 12:30 a.m.  

Meet an educator to learn about Louis Cook, one of the highest-ranking Native American officers in the Continental Army. Born to an African American father and an Abenaki Indian mother, Akiatonharonkwen fought in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) as a young man. Discover the path he chose in the Revolutionary War as British and Revolutionary leaders courted him as an ally. 

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

Join an educator to discover the stories of people of African descent through hands-on object exploration.  

Unpack a Sea Chest | Daily at 2:30 p.m.  

All hands on deck on the Museum’s replica sloop! Join a Museum educator for stories about what life was like at sea during the Revolutionary War for the Continental Navy, privateers, and prisoners of war, and learn about the different roles needed to operate Revolutionary-era ships.   

Revolution Place | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

The Museum’s family discovery center, Revolution Place, brings to life the Museum’s lively, diverse Old City neighborhood during the late 1770s and invites visitors to learn through hands-on exploration of a soldiers’ encampment, a tavern, a parlor, and even a privy! A variety of replica objects, dress-up clothes, and digital interactives await visitors, young and old.  

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. 

Gallery Guide: The Marketplace of Revolution | Daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Online 

In colonial and revolutionary America, what you bought — and who you bought it from — told people a lot about you. Throughout the war and in the years that followed, money and the marketplace were everyone’s concern: buying things became part of what it meant to be American. This holiday shopping season, use our Marketplace of Revolution gallery guide to look for artifacts related to the “consumer revolution,” new shopping habits, and wish lists. 

Thanksgiving Weekend activities are included with regular Museum admission. Our current special exhibition, The Declaration’s Journey, 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.   

More information is available on the Museum’s website.  

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.