Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City

HOURS

Thursday - Sunday (April - December)
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Closed most major holidays 

Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City illuminates the lived experiences of Philadelphians leading up to, during, and after the fight for independence. It showcases historic documents and material culture, ranging from diaries and newspapers to political cartoons and household objects. Beginning with the Stamp Act in 1765, the exhibition traces key events through the late 1780s and the impacts they had on communities living within and around the city. The exhibition features a range of voices and stories, offering windows into this turbulent period of change and presenting Revolution-era Philadelphia as a vibrant and growing city.

This exhibition is inspired by the innovative digital archive The Revolutionary City: A Portal to the Nation’s Founding, recently launched by the American Philosophical Society, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the Library Company of Philadelphia, in partnership with the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts and the Museum of the American Revolution. Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City brings together rare manuscript material and objects from the APS’s Library and Museum holdings, and the collections of these partners, as well as loans from regional institutions, and nearby historic houses and museums.

Philadelphia, The Revolutionary City will be open from April 11 to December 28, 2025 at the American Philosophical Society Museum. The Museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Thursday through Sunday, except major holidays.