Where:
Museum of the American Revolution
101 South 3rd
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Admission:
$Free with Museum Admission
Categories:
Kid Friendly
Event website:
https://www.amrevmuseum.org/events/presidents-day-weekend
Presidents Day was first celebrated in 1879 to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, our nation’s first president. This year, the Museum of the American Revolution will celebrate Washington’s 286th birthday with festivities throughout Presidents Day weekend, Saturday, Feb. 17 – Monday, Feb. 19, and the final chance to see the Museum’s limited-run special exhibit Among His Troops: Washington’s War Tent in a Newly Discovered Watercolor.
Throughout the weekend, gallery activities and costumed historical interpreters will focus on the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, a unit of the Continental Army that protected General George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Visitors can wish Washington a happy birthday by signing a giant birthday card throughout the weekend. On Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m., visitors can sing to Washington and enjoy a slice of cake shaped like Washington’s Standard, the flag that marked his presence on the battlefield, which is in the Museum’s collection.
Also on Saturday from 1 – 3 p.m., Museum staff will be at the Blue Cross RiverRink WinterFest on the Delaware Waterfront with a prize wheel that visitors can spin to win swag and other prizes. A costumed historical re-enactor will be skating and posing for photos. Visitors who bring a WinterFest ticket stub to the Museum through Feb. 19 will get $3 off admission and vice versa (walk-up only).
On Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, enjoy Breakfast with George Washington in the Museum’s Liberty Hall, which includes a meet-and-greet with a Washington historical interpreter as well as a delicious delicious breakfast buffet, courtesy of Brûlée Catering, in the Museum’s elegant Liberty Hall. Seatings are at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Tickets for the breakfast are $50 for adults and $25 for children (includes Museum admission) and are available for purchase here. At the breakfast event, General Washington will meet and greet guests while they dine on an assortment of muffins, bagels and mini quiches. Shane Chocolate Works will be onsite to serve hot drinking chocolate inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s own recipe to guests. Also in attendance will be one of Washington’s Commander-in-Chief Guards. Guests can create their own Diamond Eagle-inspired pendant like the one owned and worn by George Washington which is currently on display at the Museum through March 4.
In the Museum’s core exhibit, visitors can see Washington’s War Tent, a dramatic theater presentation of the field tent that served as Washington’s wartime headquarters, as well as his silver camp cups and portmanteau. Visitors also can view a sword that belonged to Washington, on loan from a private lender, which was made in Philadelphia in 1770 and used during the early years of the Revolutionary War. The sword is displayed alongside a hand-painted copy (ca. 1778) of Peale’s portrait of Washington. Peale’s portrait was one of the first images of the Commander-in-Chief during the war.