The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia is hosting an exhibit titled “Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia” which is now open daily from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

According to The Reporter, African-American scholar, activist, Civil War soldier and inventor Robert Bridges Forten (1813-1864) “enlisted at the then very ripe age of 50 with the 43rd United States Colored Troops infantry regiment of Camp William Penn, the first and largest federal facility to train black soldiers during the Civil War that was located in what is today Cheltenham Township.”

From the exhibit’s description:

When James Forten walked the streets of 1770s Philadelphia as a young man, he was surrounded by the sights and sounds of transformation. He heard the words of the Declaration of Independence read aloud for the first time in 1776 before setting sail to fight for independence in 1781. Born a free person of African descent, Forten built upon his coming-of-age in a revolutionary city and his wartime experience to forge himself into a changemaker in Philadelphia and the young United States, becoming a successful businessman, philanthropist, and stalwart abolitionist.

In our new special exhibition Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia, the Museum introduces visitors to Forten and his descendants as they navigated the American Revolution and cross-racial relationships in Philadelphia to become leaders in the abolition movement in the lead-up to the Civil War and the women’s suffrage movement. Using objects, documents, and immersive environments, Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia explores the Forten family’s roles in the Revolutionary War, business in Philadelphia, and abolition and voting rights from 1776 to 1876.

The unique journey and exceptional story of this family of Revolutionaries explores the legacy of the American Revolution, the history of the American experiment of liberty, equality, and self-government, and the ongoing work to improve the nation’s dedication to the principle that ‘all men are created equal.’

For tickets and more information about the exhibit, you can click here.

Screenshot courtesy of The Museum of the American Revolution