Museum News: March 2016

 

"The Spring advances, very rapidly, and all Nature will soon be cloathed in her gayest Robes."

-John Adams to Abigail, March 15, 1777

 

As did John Adams, we are eagerly anticipating the coming of spring-in our case, the spring of 2017 when we will open our doors to the public! This month, we are happy to share some exciting construction updates and the announcement of two new partnerships.  We are in the home stretch of our fundraising campaign and are grateful for your continued support!

 

 

Building Update

Over the winter months, the building's brick façade steadily went up and with only one section left, all of the brick should be in place by the end of this week. On the interior, installation of the permanent exhibit's structural walls is underway and the central staircase that takes visitors from the Museum lobby to the second floor exhibition space was recently fitted into place.  Watch our progress on the construction live cam.

 

Object Conservation

Conservation work has begun on a 1746 American, cast-iron fireback bearing the Royal Coat of Arms of King George II.  Common until the 19th century, firebacks, or chimney backs, protected the stone or brick wall of a fireplace from "burning out" and helped to radiate heat into a room. This fireback, made in New Jersey at the Oxford Furnace, needs over 250 years of soot and grim cleaned away. The image on the left is the fireback before conservation and the image on the right is after a partial cleaning.

 

 

Tavern Talks  

Young Friends of the Museum of the American Revolution are hosting their 2016 kick-off event on March 31st in partnership with the Philadelphia History Museum.  "Tavern Talks" will be a tasting of specialties from area micro-distilleries and breweries alongside food from some of our favorite Old City restaurants. Our Historian and Curator, Dr. Philip Mead will talk about tavern culture and Kristen Froehlich, Director of the Collection at the , will offer a white-glove experience of the History Museum's American Revolution collection. Tickets are $40 and space is limited. 

 

 

Partnerships

 

Daughters of the American Revolution

We are pleased to announce that the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will provide a gift to underwrite the framing and installation of a hand-painted copy of the "Siege of Yorktown"(1781), a monumental 19thcentury painting by French artist Louis-Charles Auguste Couder which hangs in the Hall of the Battles in the Palace of Versailles. This striking painting, which measures over 13 feet by 17 feet, will be stretched, varnished, hung and framed to the wall on the second floor court. Read More.

 

American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati

Left to right: Jack Duane Warren, Jr., Executive Director of the American Revolution Institute;

 Michael Quinn, M*AR President & CEO; M*AR Board members John Harvey, Marion Lane, Bennett Lomax, and Martha McGeary Snider.

 

 

Correction

Our annual year-end newsletter, "Independent Times" incorrectly listed the name of one of our supporters, the correct name is the Military Order of Foreign Wars Pennsylvania Commandery Scholarship and Historical Preservation Foundation.