Image: The museum will be located in Philadelphia

The American Revolution Center (ARC) has secured US$10m (EUR8.2m, £6.5m) from the Oneida Indian Nation towards Philadelphia's new Museum of the American Revolution.

It comes a month after the non-profit organisation unveiled architectural designs for the new museum, which have been drawn up by New York-based Robert AM Stern Architects.

Located near the Independence Hall and Liberty Bell, the 100,000sq ft (9,290sq m) museum aims to engage and inspire visitors through exhibits to be designed by MFM Design and scholars.

It will be the first national heritage attraction detailing the entire American Revolution and is to feature artefacts such as letters from George Washington and other officers.

The donation from the Oneida Indian Nation takes the centre more than a quarter of the way to matching philanthropist Gerry Lenfest's US$40M (EUR32.8m, £25.9m) challenge.

It also aims to recognise the contribution of the Oneidas during the Revolutionary War, with the Oneida Indian Nation fighting in support of the colonists.

Lenfest said: "This announcement will expand Americans' awareness of the ethnic and religious diversity of those who were part of establishing our nation during the American Revolution. This is a story we will be telling in the new museum."

A US$150m (EUR123m, £97m) capital campaign for the project has also secured US$30m (EUR24.6m, £19.4m) from a Pennsylvania state funding programme.

Details: www.americanrevolutioncenter.org

Image: NC3D