April 2026 Newsletter – A New Chapter at the Museum: The Forgotten Freedom Opens
It is my pleasure to share an exciting new moment in the life of our museum. We have officially opened The Forgotten Freedom: American Assembly at 250, our new exhibition series exploring the power, relevance, and enduring importance of assembly in American life. At a time when so much of our national conversation centers on how we come together, this exhibition invites visitors to reflect on assembly not simply as a constitutional right, but as a living expression of liberty that shapes our communities, our democracy, and our shared future.
Celebrating the debut of The Forgotten Freedom at our recent preview party was a joyful and meaningful evening for all of us. The museum was filled with energy, conversation, and connection as supporters, partners, and friends gathered to mark this special occasion. It was a powerful reminder that the ideas we explore at the museum are not abstract. They are deeply human, deeply relevant, and made stronger when experienced together.
This exhibition series is especially meaningful because it was made possible through collaboration with 17 institutions, which loaned more than 100 artifacts to help us tell the story of assembly in rich, layered, and compelling ways. I am deeply grateful for the many partnerships that helped bring this work to life. I also want to offer special thanks to Ken Goldin and Goldin Auctions for bringing four extraordinary historical documents to our preview party, making the evening all the more memorable, and to Dr. Nick DePace and the DePace Sports Museum for the exceptional sports artifacts that added such a dynamic and unexpected dimension to the experience. Together, these contributions helped create a powerful evening that reflected the many ways assembly has shaped our history, culture, and civic life.
I hope you will make plans to visit the museum and experience The Forgotten Freedom for yourself. Whether you have been part of our community for years or are considering your first visit, I believe you will find this exhibition thought-provoking, engaging, and deeply resonant.
I am also delighted to share the return of Third Thursday and our Speaker Series, two programs that help bring the museum to life in meaningful and engaging ways. Third Thursday offers a welcoming opportunity to gather in the museum in a more informal and social setting, while our Speaker Series continues to elevate timely conversations and diverse perspectives. Together, these programs create space for reflection, dialogue, and discovery, and invite our community to engage more deeply with the ideas at the heart of our mission.
It has also been wonderful to see this work receive attention beyond our walls. Recent coverage from CBS Philadelphia, 6ABC, and Hank Flynn’s segment has helped shine a broader spotlight on The Forgotten Freedom and the important conversations it is inspiring. That attention is meaningful not only because it brings visibility to the museum, but because it affirms the importance of creating spaces where people can come together to explore the complex practice of liberty.
Thank you, as always, for being part of the National Liberty Museum community. Your support, enthusiasm, and belief in this work make moments like this possible. I hope you will join us in the weeks ahead to visit the exhibition, attend a program, and continue this important journey with us. It is a privilege to welcome you into this space, and I look forward to all that we will continue to build together.
Alaine K Arnott
