Yesterday I attended the official opening of the American Revolution Museum. I had a chance to see it earlier this month at the Opening Gala, and it’s really something else. You have to go see it. The official opening was special too.

The Museum of the American Revolution hosted its grand opening celebration on April 19, 2017, the 242^nd anniversary of the “shot heard ‘round the world” that ignited the Revolutionary War in 1775.

The opening ceremony stretched across Philadelphia’s historic area, starting with a reflective and reverential tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolution at Washington Square, continuing with patriotic fanfare at Independence Hall, and then concluding with the official dedication and ribbon-cutting on the Museum’s outdoor plaza at Third and Chestnut Streets.  I caught up with them at Independence Hall.

Former Pennsylvania Governer Edward G. Rendell; Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe; Gov. Tom Wolfe  and the ceremony was hosted by Vai Sikahema, NBC10

Then the parade headed down Chestnut Street towards the new museum.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe

Former Governor of Maryland Martin O Malley (l)

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe

The building with the flag hanging down is the The Museum of the American Revolution

Former Governor of NJ Jim Florio

Gov Tom Wolfe

Col. John Bircher III, Military Order of the Purple Heart

Sydney James Harcourt, original cast member of “Hamilton,” performing with local high school students

Cokie Roberts

Keynote address by former Vice President Joe Biden

H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest, Founding Museum Chairman Emeritus and the driving force behind the opening of the The Museum of the American Revolution

Check out the story of the opening at the Phila Business Journal and more of my photos