A contemporary exhibition gallery in a library that has gray floors, overhead lighting and a series of modular exhibit panels and cases that display rare artifacts and documents.
Close up view of a tag someone hangs on the Liberty Tree, with hand-written text on it.
A screen from an interactive that shows the dark silhouettes of figures, along with the text, What Type of Revolutionary Are You?
The bright orange edge of a colorful gallery panel in a library. Other freestanding components can be seen in the background.
Two people are seen through the exhibit components in the gallery. In the foreground is a map, along with multiple historic documents.
People mill about an exhibition that features rare documents in cases in a library setting.
Two people walk through a round gallery nook that contains historic documents.
Two people sit on a bench as a man hangs a tag on a Liberty Tree.

New Jersey State Archives

Revolutionary Lives: Living the American Experiment Then and Now includes rare documents, artifacts, and maps that reveal the hidden stories behind our nation’s founding. Rather than presenting a traditional timeline of noteworthy events, the exhibition invites visitors to connect with the past through the lives of individuals, including Captain Adam Hyler, a government-sponsored pirate; Ann Cooper Whitall, a Quaker pacifist; and Shawuskukhkung, a Lenape scout, among others.

An interactive, Buzzfeed-style quiz helps visitors discover their own “revolutionary” personality type and follow the historical figures whose beliefs most closely align with their own. The experience also encourages participation through a tactile Liberty Tree where visitors can add their thoughts about democracy and civic life.

Our team worked closely with the architects who redesigned the gallery space as well as with archivists and conservators. These specialists ensured that the exhibition met the unique requirements of displaying fragile documents. Designed with flexible components, the exhibition balances meaningful visitor engagement with long-term functionality.

PROJECT DETAILS

Client: New Jersey State Archives

Location: Trenton, NJ