This talk will look back at America in 1776, exploring how the fine and decorative arts of the revolutionary era, as well as architecture and Philadelphia history illuminate the nation’s founding ideals and contradictions. Centering on works from the Dietrich American Foundation collection, it will trace the material story of Philadelphia—the city where independence was debated, signed, and established. The Foundation, established in 1963, has a particular focus on this time period and these founding stories. Through objects such as furniture, and portraiture, we see how makers, merchants, and patrons expressed new ideas of identity, taste, and citizenship. These artifacts tell the story of a city and a new national identity, with Philadelphia not just the place of the signing, but the point on the compass in the 1770s ,at the heart of a global network of trade, knowledge, and revolution.