1776, on demand

The costumed Colonial interpreters in the "Audacious Freedom" exhibit at the African American Museum in Philadelphia are light-years ahead of the ones at Colonial Williamsburg when it comes to entertainment value.

They get in your face, in a good way, with engaging stories about black life in Philly from 1776 to 1876. And the fact that they're digital creations as opposed to flesh-and-blood people adds to the fun.

Better than real, they're high-def, making eye contact with visitors from their 60-inch-high plasma screens. Better still, they're on-demand!

Hands-on fun: A kid who wants to hear from one of the 11 featured characters walks up to his or her "doorway" (the actors were filmed on green screen at WHYY nearby, with period backgrounds added in post-production) and pushes a button to select the topic of his choice.

There's a sports option at civil-rights activist Octavius Catto's "house" and a boisterous discussion of "unladylike" civil disobedience at the home of abolitionist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper.

…and while you're there. The nearby "children's wall" is an introduction to period life for young children, who lift little flaps on an illustrated backdrop to learn about the everyday lives of African-American children in Colonial Philadelphia. On a series of little chalkboard flaps, you can even check their math homework.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St., 215-574-0380. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for children and seniors.