As the country gears up to celebrate its 250th birthday, there’s really no better place to take it all in than Philadelphia—a city that doesn’t just tell the American story, it lives it. Spend time at the Museum of the American Revolution, visit the Liberty Bell Center, explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art (founded in 1876) and step inside a humble 18th–century home that is closely tied to the American flag.
Philadelphia is the kind of place where the past feels present, making it an ideal backdrop for a visit that ties directly into the nation’s semiquincentennial.
Whether viewed through artifacts, symbols, art, or everyday life, Philadelphia offers a sweeping look at our nation’s past that is particularly relevant as we approach our 250th anniversary. It’s a history that isn’t confined to textbooks but unfolds in galleries, on street corners, and inside buildings as the stories continue to be told.
Philadelphia Experiences
The Museum of The American Revolution
The Museum of the American Revolution opened in 2017 in Philadelphia’s historic district and spans roughly 118,000 square feet. Its focus extends beyond the Founding Fathers to include the experiences of women, soldiers, enslaved people, and Native Americans.
Inside, visitors will see George Washington’s war tent, along with Revolutionary-era weapons, diaries, and personal items that bring the period into sharper focus.
A special exhibition tied to the 250th, The Declaration’s Journey, explores the global impact of the Declaration of Independence from 1776 to today, connecting the nation’s founding ideals to movements of the modern era.
amrevmuseum.org
Visit the Liberty Bell
Inside the Liberty Bell Center on Independence Mall stands an iconic bell that symbolizes our nation’s dedication to freedom.
A short exhibit explains the bell’s origins and evolving meaning and how it developed its famous crack over time. Admission is free of charge and visitors are able to get an up-close, unobstructed view the bell—ideal for posting on social media. Arrive in the early morning or late afternoon for the shortest wait.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
Founded in 1876, the Philadelphia Museum of Art opened its current building in 1928 and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Movie fans may recognize the grand steps from Rocky—they have become an attraction in their own right, with visitors bounding to the top just like Sylvester Stallone did in the 1976 film.
Step inside to find an impressive collection, including works by Paul Cezanne, Marcel Duchamp, and Thomas Eakins. There are about 240,000 objects in the museum, so you may want to make multiple visits.
In recognition of the nation’s 250th, the museum is presenting A Nation of Artists, an exhibition created in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Running through 2027, it features 1,000 works spanning three centuries of American art and traces how national identity evolved through art—from colonial portraiture to modern abstraction. The result is a sweeping look at the nation’s story—told not through documents, but through the eyes of the artists who have interpreted it for generations. philamuseum.org
The Betsy Ross House
At the Betsy Ross House, the 250th comes to life through living history. Visitors will see costumed interpreters, hear storytelling, and observe hands-on demonstrations that shift the focus from well-known figures to everyday people—especially women—who lived the Revolution.
The house, located at 239 Arch Street, is a colonial-era building that dates to 1740. Although it’s not the original Betsy Ross abode (that one was purported to be next door and was demolished), it gives guests a clear view of what it was like to live in a simpler time. Visitors can explore at their own pace or opt for an audio tour. historicphiladelphia.org
Did you know?
Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800, while Washington, DC, was under construction.
