MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Murfreesboro is about to take a lively step back into the eighteenth century. The Captain William Lytle, Stones River, and Colonel Hardy Murfree Chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution are bringing the American Revolution Experience to Linebaugh Public Library beginning Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The traveling exhibit blends storytelling, illustrations, artifacts, and interactive digital kiosks to help modern audiences connect with the people who shaped the nation’s earliest days. It’s a national collaboration between the American Battlefield Trust and the DAR, supported by matching funds from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program.
The exhibit will be on display June 3–10 during regular library hours, and the community is invited to an Opening Night Celebration at 5 p.m. on June 3. The evening features guest speaker Dr. Amy Sayward, a history professor at Middle Tennessee State University and director of the American Democracy Project. Dr. Sayward, who also chairs MTSU’s Semiquincentennial Committee, will present “Swamps, Swords, and Sovereignty: The Campaign for Independence,” exploring the South’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. A reception will follow, complete with Colonial‑style cookies from The Sweet Addiction.
Throughout the week, Linebaugh Library and the local DAR chapters will host children’s programs tied to the exhibit, including a patriotic scavenger hunt, colonial games on the patio, and a Revolutionary Bingo session. Several events are also part of Linebaugh’s “Unearth a Story” Summer Reading Program for the America 250 celebration, including an all‑ages storytime on June 2, a special presentation of “The Patriot’s Chest” by the Stones River Sons of the American Revolution on June 3, a Skype‑a‑Scientist session with an archaeologist on June 5, and a tween/teen interactive screening of National Treasure that afternoon.
The American Revolution Experience first launched online in 2022, earning national recognition from the Anthem Awards and the Webby Awards. The traveling version features twelve panels and three interactive kiosks that introduce visitors to a wide range of Revolutionary‑era individuals—Patriots, Loyalists, women, Black and Native participants, and even international allies. Rather than focusing solely on famous founders, the exhibit highlights drummer boys, mapmakers, and everyday people whose choices shaped the fight for independence.
The Linebaugh Library is a part of the Rutherford County Library System and is located at 105 W. Vine Street, just off the historic Murfreesboro Square.
