Museum of the American Revolution
Recognition: AAM Muse Silver Award / CommArts: WebPick of the Week / Philadelphia Addy Awards: Silver, Websites, Consumer HTML
Called a “living memorial to the American Revolution and its enduring legacy,” Philadelphia’s Museum of the American Revolution is the world’s first museum and education center dedicated to teaching the story of the American Revolution.
What We Did
When the museum was first being formed as an organization in 2011, the founders asked Bluecadet to build the museum’s web presence. Our small shop was known for its ability to build historical narratives that informed, educated, and entertained, and we jumped at the chance to tell the story of the American Revolution.
Our team used our unique combination of backgrounds in American history, design, and technology to deliver an immersive interactive experience framed by educational materials for teachers and information about the museum.
In order to highlight the artifacts in the American Revolution Center’s collection, we created an immersive interactive timeline to showcase the collection, positioning each artifact within the greater context of American history. Visitors can explore each artifact, as well as listen to podcasts from curators who explain the artifact’s story and importance.
Why It Was a Success
The project succeeded because the content and design worked in concert to position artifacts within a larger context. Detailed images of each artifact in detail, supplemental material, and recordings of museum curators all contributed to an engaging narrative of the artifact’s story and importance.
Because the whole experience was embedded alongside school lesson plans and information about the museum itself, visitors left with a greater appreciation for the museum’s role in preserving, interpreting, and sharing America’s history.
The Impact
In 2012 the American Alliance of Museums recognized the project’s interactive timeline with a MUSE award.
That same year Robert Stern Architects presented designs for a three-story building located just two blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center. Expanding on the themes we introduced with the timeline, the planned 118,000 square feet of exhibits would take visitors on a chronological journey from the 1760s through the final years of the war.
The museum was opened to the public on April 19, 2017, the 242nd anniversary of the first battles of the war at Lexington and Concord in 1775, and in 2021 it celebrated its one-millionth visitor.