10 Ways to Meet Historical Reenactors in Philadelphia

Visit the home of Betsy Ross and America’s most famous flag maker might be there, outfitted in her dress and bonnet ensemble, to chat about her role in making the first American flag. Bonus: From Memorial Day through Labor Day, kids can help Betsy raise the flag during a daily hoisting of Old Glory. Visitors can also meet Phillis, an African American colonial who explains and shows what life was like for a freed black woman in the 18th century. Check the official site for select days and times that Betsy and Phillis are on site.

On the Independence After Hours tour, Colonial characters bring history to life at top landmarks in the Historic District. The evening begins with a delicious three-course meal at the historic City Tavern, where colonial townspeople entertain guests. The colonial host then “sneaks” everyone into the Pennsylvania State House (now known as Independence Hall) by talking his way past the vigilant night watchman. Once inside, visitors witness several Founding Fathers deep in discussion over the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Tours run on select dates from the spring through the fall.

Spread throughout the Historic District, 13 benches beckon with free, five-minute tales of Philadelphia’s history and even some forgotten secrets, told by professional storytellers. Story benches — active on select dates from Memorial Day to Labor Day — are marked with Once Upon a Nation signs. Children who collect star stamps at all 13 benches earn a free carousel ride at Franklin Square.

The over-21 set can sing along to 18th-century drinking songs, enjoy stories of the drinking traditions of the colonial period, and sample spirits and snacks as they ramble through the Historic District with a colonial guide. Tippler’s Tour-goers visit local watering holes while learning important information along the way, like Benjamin Franklin’s names for a drunk person (including “nimptopsical” and “tipsicum grave”). Tippler’s Tours run around the holidays and in the winter; check the official site for dates and times.

Grab a toy musket and get in line for the Military Muster! The interactive event — which runs on select dates from Memorial Day to Labor Day — invites little ones into Signers’ Garden on select days throughout summer to learn firsthand what it was like to serve in the army during the Revolutionary War. A troop of soldiers in full Continental Army regalia lead the activities, including a marching drill alongside live drums and a workshop on proper musket etiquette.

”We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…” From Memorial Day through Labor Day, residents and visitors can head to Independence Square (the open space located behind Independence Hall) to hear live readings of the Declaration of Independence by reenactors. Check the official site for the summer schedule, which runs on select dates from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Throughout history, Philadelphia has been filled with bright thinkers and creators, not all of whom are household names. Visit the storytelling bench at Independence Visitor Center from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day for a chance to meet some of the lesser-known historic figures who lived in Philadelphia during the 18th century. The characters treat spectators to demonstrations on popular colonial-era pastimes like quill-pen calligraphy, sawdust-doll making and watercolor art.

City Tavern offers a historic dining experience, complete with colonial haute cuisine, costumed waitstaff and colonial-era drinks and desserts. The restaurant is housed in a replica of the 1773 restaurant where George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and other Founding Fathers gathered for the 18th-century version of happy hour after long days of debating the future of the colonies.

The Museum of the American Revolution — a treasure trove of relics that tells the story of America’s fight for freedom — hosts a variety of living-history events throughout the year, including colonial-inspired musical gatherings, meet-and-greets and interactive demonstrations led by historical interpreters. The fun hits an apex each fall with Occupied Philadelphia, a dramatic two-day event that tells the story of the nine-month British invasion of Philadelphia in 1777. The spectacle comes complete with redcoat soldiers who arrest patriot spies and stand guard around an authentic 18th-century marketplace in the outdoor plaza. Stay tuned to the museum’s events calendar for updates on the attraction’s living history programming.

During the late 1700s as many as 30 to 50 men and women, including well-known figures such as Betsy Ross, attended meetings at the Free Quaker Meeting House, the home of an unusual group of “fighting” Quakers who rejected the principle of pacifism to partake in the Revolutionary War. Visit this historic house of worship between Memorial Day and Labor Day and learn about their impact on colonial Philadelphia via members of the congregation — like Free Quaker descendant John Price Wetherill — as portrayed by costumed reenactors. Other historical figures — like Common Sense author Thomas Paine — also occasionally stop by.