Exhibits & Events

The Museum  of the American Revolution will feature new artifact displays, a contemporary art installation, and special programming to mark Pride Month this June. Throughout the month, the Museum is pleased to present Whiskey Rebellion, an installation of sculptures by Philadelphia artist John Y Wind in the second-floor Oneida Indian Nation Atrium. Wind’s work transforms hand-painted, ceramic decanters of key figures from the American Revolution that were produced by the Jim Beam Distilling Company and their competitors from the 1960s-70s to circumvent a new federal whiskey tax and tap into Bicentennial fever. His recontextualized works explore issues of masculinity, heroism, diversity, and the very notion of commemoration through a 21^st century lens. The series was inspired by Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. "The time travel, pop culture mash-up, and outsider lens… The social and political  concerns of our times layered with my own queer sensibility—all set the stage for an  intervention,” Wind said. “I asked myself what are the tropes that convey authority here? The uniforms, decorations, and elaborate pedestals—I wanted to have a go at it, insert myself,  humanize them and redefine what a hero looks like in 2024. This is my whiskey rebellion.” 

On Saturday, June 22, Museum guests will have the opportunity to meet Wind and dive deeper  into the history and meaning of the installation as part of daily programming. This will include a  guided tour of Whiskey Rebellion with the artist at 11:15 a.m., as well as the opportunity to explore his artistic process and inspiration with a pop-up Discovery Cart manned by Wind from  1-3 p.m. Both opportunities will take place in the Oneida Indian Nation Atrium. 

In addition to the installation featuring Wind’s work, the Museum will dedicate a second-floor  display to Prussian immigrant and military leader Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin  von Steuben (1730-1794), also known as Baron von Steuben, who helped shape the Continental Army into a powerful fighting force during the Revolutionary War.

Steuben’s charming and charismatic behavior endeared him to his fellow soldiers and friends but his close and cherished relationships with men caused some people to wonder about his sexuality. Through objects and artwork related to Steuben – both on loan and from the Museum’s collection – the Museum digs deeper into Steuben’s reputation and identity.  

One highlight of the new case display will be a portrait of Steuben he himself commissioned from American painter Charles Willson Peale, on loan from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. See the display on view at the Museum in the Color Guard of  the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution case on  the second floor through December 2024. Programming planned for June will provide opportunities for  Museum guests to explore lesser-known stories of people  who, during the American Revolution, challenged gender and social norms.