Independence Day Family Celebration
- Monday, July 4, 2022
- Free with Museum admission; admission free for ages 17 and younger
- Ages: All
Event Details:
Celebrate Independence Day at the New-York Historical Society! We're open 11 am – 5 pm on Monday, July 4. Join us for a fun-filled day of learning about America’s past through crafts, stories, and objects in our galleries. Read on for descriptions of all our holiday activities.
Living History: Enslaver & the Enslaved: Expanding Your Understanding of Thomas Jefferson
12 - 3 pm
Explore the statue of Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) with a costumed interpreter and dig into his legacy—both as a Founding Father and as an enslaver. Together with our interpreters, discover how the third U.S. president and author of the Declaration of Independence rationalized his commitment to freedom while enslaving more than 600 people of African descent. Who were the people enslaved by Jefferson? And what do we know about them, their lives, their families, and their descendants? Afterwards, write a letter to Jefferson telling him what you think and feel about his life and legacy.
Storytime: Celebrating Americans
12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm
Join us for a special holiday storytime! Educators will read engaging stories about great Americans from every walk of life. Listen in to learn about the many American heroes and heroines from yesterday and today. Will you be the next American hero?
Visitors watch a Living Historian outside the Museum
Family Craft Activity: Funny Faces
12-3 pm
Learn about America’s famous and little-known American greats from Gayë́twahgeh to Juliette Noel Toussaint to former First Lady Michelle Obama. Families will mix and match their portraits to create a unique American of your very own.
Families Respond: What Does “We the People” Mean to You?
12 - 3 pm
Families are invited to post sticky notes on our “Preamble wall” reflecting upon and responding to the opening words of the Constitution. You can also experience the phrase featured in the monumental installation We the People by artist Nari Ward. Share what these three powerful words mean to you on America’s birthday!
Digital Family Guide: Clues for Civics
All day
What is your civic duty as an American citizen? Explore the foundations of American government and civic life throughout New-York Historical’s exhibitions. Hunt high and low for objects and artifacts that relate to civic life in America’s past and help us understand our civic duties today. Discover your rights and responsibilities, your role in U.S. politics, and how you can exercise your power as a citizen. Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Enjoy kid-friendly snacks for purchase in Parliament Espresso and Coffee Bar! Grab a snack bar, chips, cookies, and more to keep you going throughout the day!
From Juneteenth to the 4th of July, we invite you to participate in the second annual #CivicSeason. We’re teaming up with hundreds of history museums and sites across the country through @HistoryMadeByUs, in partnership with the next generation shaping our democracy to launch a new tradition that makes room for all of our stories—and write the next chapter together.
This #CivicSeason, celebrate what you stand for, and shape what our country becomes. Get started: TheCivicSeason.com
