Timeline of the American Revolution

A desktop computer showing the Timeline of the American Revolution with a succulent and mug next to the computer
Timeline

Timeline of the American Revolution

Using a mixture of historical objects, artifacts, and documents all drawn from the Museum’s collection, this multimedia timeline explores both key moments and surprising stories of the American Revolution. It encourages users to look closely, dig deeply, and even extend their experience by creating and downloading their own curated timelines. The Timeline of the American Revolution is available to download on select devices to allow for offline exploration.

The Timeline of the American Revolution was made possible in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Additional support provided by VisitPA.com, the Achelis & Bodman Foundation, and the Gordon and Llura Gund Foundation.

Explore the Timeline

360-Degree Virtual Tours

Explore the compelling stories and complex events of the American Revolution through 360-degree tours featuring high-resolution panoramic images, supplemental audio, and more.

Recreation of the Liberty Tree in The Road to Independence section of the Museum
 

Virtual Museum Tour

Explore our core galleries and immerse yourself in the history of the nation's founding through 360-degree panoramic images, high-resolution images of objects and artifacts, and a guided audio tour.

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A screenshot of a 360-degree panoramic image from the Black Founders virtual tour; James Forten is featured in the Ken Burns film "The American Revolution".
 

Black Founders Virtual Tour

Immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the artifacts and documents, and a guided audio tour to explore the story of free Black Philadelphian James Forten and his descendants.

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A painting hangs above a display case of corresponding artifacts in the Liberty exhibit.
 

Liberty Virtual Tour

Immerse yourself in 360-degree panoramic gallery images, high-resolution photos of the art and artifacts, and a guided audio tour of the dramatic, research-based works of nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani as featured in our special exhibition, Liberty: Don Troiani's Paintings of the Revolutionary War.

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Virtual Washington Tent Experience  Credit Moar
 

Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters

Explore the Museum's handsewn, full-scale replicas of General George Washington's Revolutionary War sleeping, dining, and baggage tents through 360-degree images in our Virtual Tour of Washington's Field Headquarters.

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Online Exhibits

With our online exhibitions, the Museum of the American Revolution continues to uncover and share compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government for our digital visitors across the country and around the world.

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Virtual Exhibit

When Women Lost the Vote

A Revolutionary Story

Learn the little-known history of the nation’s first women voters and examine the political conflicts that led to their voting rights being stripped away.

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Image 090920 Richard St George Cost Revolution National Gallery Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Felton Bequest, 1922 
Virtual Exhibit

Cost of Revolution

The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier

Follow the story of Irish soldier and artist Richard Mansergh St. George, whose personal trauma and untimely death provide a window into the entangled histories of the American Revolution of 1776 and the Irish Revolution of 1798.

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A zoomed in section of Verplanck's Point featuring General Washington’s tent perched on a hill overlooking the encampment
 
Virtual Exhibit

Among His Troops

Washington's War Tent in a Newly Discovered Watercolor

Explore the online exhibit inspired by French-born Continental Army engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant's 1782 watercolor painting depicting the encampment at Verplanck's Point, New York, which includes the only known wartime image of General George Washington's headquarters tent.

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A painting of soldiers in Battle
 
Virtual Exhibit

Banners of Liberty

An Exhibition of Original Revolutionary War Flags

Of the hundreds of flags made and carried in the Revolutionary War by the Continental Army and American militia, only about 30 are known to survive. View more than a dozen original flags that were carried in military campaigns stretching from northern New England to South Carolina.

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Interactive Features

Dig deeper into compelling stories and complex events of the American Revolution through these interactive online learning experiences. 

A watercolor depicts Deborah and Harry aboard a ship setting sail for Nova Scotia.
 
Story-Based

Finding Freedom

Explore the stories of African American men and women in war-torn Virginia with the Museum's award-winning Finding Freedom online interactive.
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Image 102720 Season Of Independence Cover Soi Soc Character Comp2
 
Map-Based

Season of Independence

Explore the spread of support for American independence from January to July of 1776. Encounter the perspectives of real men and women on all sides of the debate.
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Image 012720 Nj Archives Poll List Wwltv Dsc3668
 
Document-Based

When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story: Discovering America’s First Women Voters, 1800 - 1807

In 2018 the Museum of the American Revolution discovered polling records that document for the first time a generation of women voters in early New Jersey. Learn more about these poll lists.
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Two watercolors drawling
 
Painting-Based

Picturing Washington's Army

Explore rare paintings of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, including the only known wartime, eyewitness image of George Washington's tent.
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Abigail And John Book Cover David Bruce Smith
 
Interactive

Abigail & John Adams

Read the book Abigail & John, the story of one of America’s most celebrated historical couples written by David Bruce Smith alongside original illustrations by his mother, Clarice Smith.
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Image 062623 James Davenport Letters Page 250
 
Family Letters

The Davenport Letters

Explore a series of letters written during the Revolutionary War by brothers and Continental Army soldiers James and Isaac How Davenport between 1778-1783.
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Service Documents

Proof of Service

Explore the wartime papers of Continental Army soldier Samuel Gerock, who served at the Second Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Princeton during the 10 Crucial Days.
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