Philadelphia spent the first half of the year celebrating America’s 250th birthday the only way the birthplace of the nation can, earning rave reviews from national media. And the best news for visitors and residents: the party is far from over. This fall and winter, the city is packed with milestone moments, from stepping back into the fall of 1776 to discovering fresh perspectives on liberty.
At the Museum of the American Revolution, “The Declaration’s Journey” runs through January 3, 2027, tracing how the Declaration of Independence shaped independence movements in more than 100 nations. Nearby, the American Philosophical Society’s “These Truths: The Declarations of Independence” reveals rare treasures, including a first printing of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the chair Thomas Jefferson sat in while writing the Declaration.
The yearlong “52 Weeks of Firsts” keeps the fun going every Saturday with free Firstivals celebrating Philly firsts: the first public showing of a motion picture on October 24, the first Thanksgiving Day parade on November 7, and Philly food firsts on December 26.
The Barnes Foundation presents “Noguchi to Asawa: Designing Postwar America” through January 10, 2027, while The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History’s “The First Salute” explores the first international recognition of the United States. History has never been this much fun.
Photo: Museum of the American Revolution
