MCNY's whole third floor becomes Revolutionary New York: sit in a recreated tavern stocked with real 18th-century jugs and flagons, walk through Canvas Town, the refuge for displaced New Yorkers, and watch the toppling of King George III's statue dramatized. A rare copy of the Book of Negroes from the National Archives anchors the stories of Black New Yorkers. If America's 250th has you curious, this is the city's most immersive take.
What to expect
Expect a mix of historical objects, interactive media and full-room environments, from the tavern to multimedia on the Battle of New York, plus Revolutionary-era city scenes drawn from the video game Assassin's Creed III. The show follows revolutionaries and loyalists, enslaved and free Black New Yorkers, women and Native peoples.
Good to know
- The exhibition fills the museum's third floor, so allow at least an hour
- Take the 6 to 103rd Street and walk west to Fifth Avenue
- Gamers will recognize the Assassin's Creed III city scenes
- Another Wonderland and Joe Macken's giant city model are in the same building
- A strong pick for families with kids studying American history
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Common questions
What period does it cover?
From the Imperial Crisis of 1763 through New York's emergence as the nation's first capital in 1790.
What is the Book of Negroes on view?
A rarely seen volume of the Inspection Roll of Negroes, on loan from the National Archives and one of only two known copies, shown with an interactive of its recorded names.
How long is it on view?
MCNY's press materials describe a year-long run on the third floor, through May 1, 2027.
