The brand-new Museum of the American Revolution will shortly open its doors to the public and invite people from all walks of life to view its vast collections of historical artifacts and icons of America’s legacy. The museum will open on April 19, the anniversary of the “shot heard round the world,” the first shots of the American Revolution fired at Lexington, Massachusetts. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will speak at the grand opening.
According to Philly.com, “the opening ceremony’s events will begin April 19 at 8 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in the Museum’s outdoor plaza. Prior to the ribbon-cutting, the ceremony will feature an opening program that runs from Washington Square to Independence Hall.”
R. Scott Stephenson, the vice president of Collections, Exhibitions and Programming at the museum, has been planning for this building’s opening for 10 years. Back when it was an idea on paper, he knew it would be a tremendous collection of history and legacy. In an interview with CBS Philadelphia, Stephenson says, “I think it’s going to be like no experience anyone has ever had.”
The museum will feature thousands of historic artifacts, the likes of which were not previously displayed in other museum collections. Among these rare pieces is a British Coat of Arms for King George III. Vice President Stephenson says, “These symbols of the crown were literally pulled off of the walls, were paraded through towns [and] were thrown on to bonfires as an iconoclastic destruction of the King.”
In addition to this, according to PennLive.com, the museum will feature interactive exhibits, an immersive simulation of the sights and sounds heard from inside a war tent, a war at sea section featuring a boardable ship and sections on African-American, French and Native American heroes from the war. The museum will also be the site of a most-cherished artifact: George Washington’s headquarters tent. According to the article posted on pennlive.com, “Washington used this tent starting in 1776 after the siege of Boston.”
Upon the museum’s opening, Philadelphia’s Old City district will have another uniquely historic attraction, and similar to its companions the Museum of the American Revolution is expected to draw thousands every year.
Sources: CBS Philadelphia, PennLive.com, Philly.com
Grace Nealy 
Jason Karch 
Josh Steen