The Museum of the American Revolution Honors Women’s History Month

by Sara Adibi

Scholastic Kid Reporter Sara Adibi at the Museum of American Revolution
Scholastic Kid Reporter Sara Adibi at the Museum of American Revolution (photo courtesy of the author).

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Museum of the American Revolution, located in Philadelphia, PA, has opened its doors to special galleries highlighting the impact women had on our early revolutionary beginnings. Whether it's taking a tour learning different stories of prominent female figures, uncovering the women who worked behind the scenes, or aided the army, the museum emphasizes the different roles that women played during our country’s fight for independence. 

 

Meg Bowersox, a Manager of Gallery Interpretation at the museum, shared more about the exhibitions in an interview, “Through our programming, website, and social media, we work to share a variety of perspectives of women from different places, classes, and races. During a program, we may compare two women’s experiences regarding an event.” 

The gallery shown above depicts the story of how women gained the right to vote in New Jersey for a short period of time (photo courtesy of the author).

The programs are a great way to learn about lesser-known women, who played large roles in the war. One of the key programs is a 60-minute gallery tour examining these women’s roles including Mercy Oris, Elizabeth Freeman, and Deborah Sampson. Mercy Otis was an American activist and poet who used her writings to promote colonial resistance against royal authority. Elizabeth “Bet” Freeman was a formerly enslaved woman who sued for her freedom in 1781, arguing that slavery violated the Constitution based on the term, “all men are created equal.” She helped abolish slavery in Massachusetts and her contributions are highlighted in a 25-minute performance. Finally, Deborah Sampson was a female patriot who disguised herself as a man and fought bravely for her country. Each woman contributed to society in her own unique way, shaping the country in which we live today. 

 

The gallery also gives insight into the more mundane ways that women shaped the Revolution. This ranged from traveling with soldiers to take care of their daily needs and to tend to their injuries, to making their own goods to boycott British ones, and using their voice to sometimes shape men’s opinions about the war. 

Visitors explored the different stories of how women helped shape the Revolution (photo courtesy of the author).

Even though the Revolution did not cause an immediate women’s rights movement, it did allow women to assert their political views in different ways. Meg Bowersox states, “I hope guests leave with more of an appreciation and understanding of women’s roles during the American Revolution. I hope that people feel inspired by these stories and continue to think about how they can make their own impact on the world.” 

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