The United States Army’s New Exhibit Highlighting the Revolutionary War Soldier Experience

“He is one of those who fought in the Revolutionary War for that Independence which the people of this Country now enjoy. That whilst his country had need of his services . . . he did not remain at home ‘idle in his cabin,’ but went wherever his country call[ed], & his General dared to lead.” The words of Private William Woods of South Carolina speak directly to his quest for receiving a pension. Seeking relief from poverty in elder years, his story is just one of dozens found in the new exhibit, “CALL TO ARMS: The Soldier & the Revolutionary War,” the National Museum of the United States Army’s celebration of the army’s 250th birthday this upcoming June 2025.

The first exhibition of its kind to showcase the Continental Army at its inception, this ambitious exhibit centers enlisted soldiers in the overall scope of the Revolution, with a focus on artifacts that are both original and rare to tell their stories. The 5,000 square foot space has been developed to provide engagement at every corner; from the first shots of Lexington and Concord through the perils of the Southern Theater, the Army is presenting the Revolutionary War in a way that has never been seen before.

Located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, the National Museum of the United States Army opened in November 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It remains a hidden gem of combat history for America’s wars, offering visitors both physical and immersive experiences going back to America’s founding. While the museum draws many veterans and their families, along with active duty soldiers, it continues to welcome the general public in an effort to show and tell the Army’s history to American citizens. Chief Curator Paul Morando knew the museum could elaborate on the main gallery’s Revolutionary War pieces. His first goal was to ensure this special exhibit brought visitors as close as possible to the soldiers of the Revolution.

With help from many of the nation’s leading museums and historical societies, as well as the graciousness of several private collectors, the Army has enhanced its own collection to create a significant presentation to the public. One of the exhibit’s crucial goals is presenting artifacts linked to individual soldiers. Of the 280 artifacts on display, 250 have such provenance. From original muskets, rifles and swords, to cocked hats, flags and personal effects, visitors will be treated to a full spectrum of items, some of which are on display for the very first time. Highlights include a cap worn by a soldier killed at Long Island, an original Ferguson breech-loading rifle, a sword thought to be the one surrendered by Lt. Gen. John Burgoyne at Saratoga, and a ten-inch French mortar used at the Siege of Yorktown. Through items associated with big names, such as Generals Washington, Greene and Morgan, visitors will learn about the soldiers who fought under their commands, and the triumphs and hardships that ultimately secured American independence.

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A special treat is that the museum has partnered with international institutions to include artifacts from around the world. These include an original 1773 British redcoat, a 1776 French infantry coat, and artifacts associated with the many German regiments collectively known as Hessians. In addition, while the exhibit does not seek to tell the whole story of the war, it does provide visitors with a sprawling variety of items that touch on American Loyalists, prisoners of war, civilian interactions, and veterans seeking compensation in the nineteenth century.

Artifacts centering on the many soldier stories are not the only means of visitor engagement. The museum has partnered with several design firms to bring to life two interactive, 3-D topographical maps that will both show and tell visitors the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Yorktown. The exhibit also features two interactive, touch-screen kiosks that break down Northern and Southern theaters by battle. The heart and soul of the kiosks emerge when visitors discover personal accounts and testimonies from the soldiers themselves. Snippets reveal motivations for service, for decisions made under fire, and reflection on what sacrifices soldiers of the Revolution ultimately endured.

The exhibit also features seven life-sized cast figures depicting real individuals who fought in the Revolutionary War on the side of American independence. These include Private Sylvanus Wood, who captured the first British prisoner at Concord, and Anna Maria Lane, a camp follower and soldier’s wife who earned a pension from the state of Virginia for fighting alongside her husband. Other featured individuals, such as Stockbridge Indian Daniel Nimham, open avenues for visitors to learn who was fighting alongside the Continental Army, and their motivations for doing so. Look no further than Private Cato Vernon, an African American soldier with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. Vernon, standing with fixed bayonet in the center of the exhibit, earned his freedom from chattel slavery by enlisting in the Army.

Of the many celebrations being planned for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the US Army has once again taken the lead by being the front line of America’s founding. Never before has such an exhibit taken on the responsibility of giving voice to so many who sacrificed all for America’s birthright.

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Come for the Washingtons. The Lafayettes. The Hamiltons. And discover the soldiers who fought for them to win American independence. This special exhibit opens to the general public Saturday, June 7, 2025 and will run consecutively through June 2027.

For more information, please visit www.thenmusa.org/.