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Museum Road Trip Edition

Enjoy this 7 page Firearms Museums Guide. Visit often for additional features and updates.

Courtesy of Higgins Armory Museum

FIREARMS-RELATED MUSEUMS IN THE U.S.A.

This guide includes museums that members of The Ohio Gun Collectors Association felt would be of interest to fellow members. It has been compiled and updated from your suggestions submitted over recent years. You will fi nd the list alphabetically, below, and by state, along with a map on pages 8-9.

Be sure to call ahead to check hours and any special exhibits or programs. For research pur-poses, some museums will allow access to items in storage with advance arrangements.

The guide will become a part of our website, www.ogca.com, so please keep your updates and additions coming. (Undoubtedly, there will be additions and modifi cations.) In addition, more and more museums offer the ability to “walk-through” their collections on-line, and we will provide links to web addresses wherever possible.

This list is limited to museums within the United States. We also seek your recommendations for museums outside the U.S.A. for a future reference list.

The Aberdeen Museum of History (1), Exhibits include a Blacksmith’s shop. 111 East Third St., Aberdeen, Washington 98520; Ph: (360) 533-1976; www.aber-deen-museum.org

Arizona State Museum (2), Includes Na-tive American historical weapons and a few artifacts of Pancho Villa-era National Guard deployment. 1013 E. University Blvd., P.O. Box 210026 Tucson, AZ 85721-0026; Ph: (520) 621-6302; www.statemuseum.arizona.edu.

Army Heritage Center (3), Centerpiece of the Army’s Historical Program and a major component of the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. P.O. Box 839, Carlisle, PA 17013; Ph: (866) ARMY-HTG; www.armyheritage.org

The Art Institute of Chicago (4), The George F. Harding, Jr. Collection of Arms and Armor. 111 S. Michigan Avenue, Chi-cago, IL 60603-6110; Ph: (312) 443-3642; www.artic.edu

Baltimore Maritime Museum (5), One of the most impressive collections of military vessels in the world. Piers 3 & 5 Baltimore Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD 21202; Ph: (410) 396-3453; www.baltomaritimemu-seum.org

Buffalo Bill Historical Center (6), A com-plex of museums of western art, fi rearms, and Native American culture. Includes Cody Firearms Museum – see below. 720 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY 82414; Ph: (307) 587- 4771

C. M. Russell Museum (7), Features Browning family collection as well as varied examples of 18th and 19th Century fi re-arms including a number of British double rifl es. 400 13th Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401; Ph: (406) 727-8787, Fax: (406) 727-2402

Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park (8), Claude Fuller collection of U.S. martial arms. P.O. Box 2128, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742; Ph: (706) 866-9241, Fax: (423) 752-5215; www.nps.gov/chch/index.htm

Cody Firearms Museum (9), One of the most comprehensive collections of Ameri-can fi rearms in the world. The heart of the museum is The Winchester Collection, but virtually every signifi cant manufacturer in the world is represented. Offers records service for collectors. Located in the Buf-falo Bill Historical Center, 720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414; Ph: (307) 578-4117; www.bbhc.org/fi rearms

Colonial Williamsburg (10), A recreated colonial town – lots of walking. Military and civilian fi rearms from the 17th and 18th centuries. Traces the evolution of the stan-dard British infantry musket pre-1800. P.O. Box 1776, Williams-burg, VA 23187-1776; Ph: (757) 229-1000; www.history.org/his-tory/museums

Colorado Historical Society (11), Large fi rearms collection al-though much of it in storage. 1300 Broad-way, Denver, CO 80203; Ph: (303) 866 -6822

Colorado Springs Pio-neer Museum (12), Large Civil War Fire-arms Collection, 215 South Tejon St., Colora-do Springs, CO 80903; Ph: (719) 385-5990

Dan Hardesty's Wild West Museum (84) Western Memorabilia, Civil War and Indian Artifacts 1280 Franklin Ave. Franklin, PA 16323; (814) 432-8577

Davis Museum, see J.M. Davis Arms Museum (27)

First Corps of Cadets Museum (15), Houses the artifacts that promote the history of the Oldest Continuously Active Volunteer Militia Unit of the United States and still serves our country after 267 years. 227 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02116; Ph: (617) 267-1726

Fort Ticonderoga (17), One of the nation’s oldest museums and boasts the largest cannon collection in North America and powder horn collection. P.O. Box 390, Ti-conderoga, NY 12883; (518) 585-2821

Frank Brownell Museum of the South-west at the NRA’s Whittington Center (83) Highlights 130 fi rearms that contrib-uted to the exploration and development of the southwest. NRA Whittington Center P.O. Box 700, Raton, NM 87740; (575) 445-3615; info@nrawc.org

Frazier Historical Arms Museum (18), 100,000 sq. ft. newer museum featuring a permanent collection of wide variety of fi ne American arms, the magnifi cent British Royal Armouries exhibition on long-term loan, plus period reenactments. 829 W.

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Main St., Louisville, KY 40202; Ph: (502) 753-5663; www.frazierarmsmuseum.org

Frontier Army Museum (19), Focuses on Fort Leavenworth’s role in westward expan-sion, exhibiting one of the fi nest collections of horse-drawn military carriages in the nation, including a 1790 prairie schooner. 100 Reynolds Ave., Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027; Ph: (913) 684-3186

Gene Autry Museum of Western Heri-tage (20), Exhibits many historic guns once owned by individuals well known in western history such as outlaw Frank James and others. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462; Ph: (323) 667-2000; www.autrynationalcenter.org

General George Patton Museum (21), Largest collection of Patton artifacts in the world, including personal items used by General Patton throughout his life and an Armor Memorial Park. 4554 Fayette Avenue, Fort Knox, KY 40121-0208 Ph: (502) 624-3812

Gettysburg National Military Park (22), National Park Service museum exhibits an outstanding collection of Civil War era mar-tial arms, both Union and Confederate. 97 Taneytown RD, Gettysburg, PA 17325; Ph: (717) 334-1124, Fax: (717) 334-1891

Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS (23), Historic site provides an understanding of the frontier cattle era of the Nation’s history. Hdq. 266 Warren Lane, Deer Lodge, MT 59722; Ph: (406) 846-2070, ext. 224; Visitor Center; (406) 846-2070, ext. 250, Fax: (406) 846-3962

Harper’s Ferry National Historical Park (24), Extensive museum including a Civil War museum. P.O. Box 65, Harper’s Ferry, WV 25425; (304) 535-6029

Higgins Armory Museum (25), With 5,000 objects on 4 fl oors, it is the only institution in the Northeast dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of arms and armor. 100 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606-2444; (508) 853-6015; www.higgins.org

Huntington Museum of Art (80) Includes an entire wing on the Herman P. Dean Firearms Collection parts of which have been on special exhibit at OGCA in recent years. 2033 McCoy RD., Huntington WV 25701; (304) 529-2701

J. M. Davis Arms Museum (27), Extensive and eclectic collection of guns in varying

states of preservation. 333 Lynn Riggs Blvd., (U.S. Route 66), Claremore, OK 74018; Ph: (918) 341-5707; www.state.ok.us/~jmdavis/

Jim Gatchell Museum (28), 200 his-toric guns from all the major gun makers. Closed in winter. 100 Fort St., P.O. Box 596, Buffalo, WY 82834; Ph: (307) 684-9331; www.jimgatchell.com

John M. Browning Firearms Museum (29), Original models of fi rearms designed by John M. Browning are displayed. 2501 Wall Ave., Ogden, UT 84401; Ph: (801) 393-9886

Kansas Museum of History (30), Includes a Civil War Museum, 6425 SW Sixth Ave., Topeka, KS 66615-1099; Ph: (785) 272-8681

Kentucky Military History Museum (31), Emphasizes the service of the Kentucky Militia, State Guard, and other volunteer military organizations from the Revolution through the Gulf War. 100 W. Broadway, Frankfort, KY 40601; Ph: (502) 564-1792, (877) 444-7867; email: KHS@ky.gov

Maine State Museum (32), State House Station 83, Augusta, ME 04333; Ph: (207) 287-2301; www.maine.gov/museum/index.html

Metropolitan Museum of Art (33), Several exceptional fi rearms including Colt Third Model Dragoon Percussion Revolver, ca. 1853 gifted by George Repaire that was once part of the Locke collection. 5th Avenue at 82nd Street, New York City, NY 10028; Ph: (212) 879-5500, Ext. 3396; www.metmuseum.org.

Milwaukee Public Museum Reference Li-brary, See Nunnemacher Collection (34).

Missouri History Museum (35), From Lindbergh’s plane, William Clark and the Civil War. 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112-0040. Ph: (314) 361-4599; www.mohistory.com

Missouri State Museum (36), One of the highlights of this collection is over 125 Missouri Civil War battle fl ags. Jefferson St. and Capital Ave., Jefferson City, MO 656101; Ph: (573) 751-2854

Montana Historical Society (37), Over 1,000 firearms, P.O. Box 201201, 225 North Roberts, Helena, MT 59620-1201; Ph: (406) 444-2694; email: mhslibrary@mt.gov

Morristown National Historic Park (38), Revolutionary War Arms, 30 Washington Place, Morristown, NJ 07960-4299; Ph: (908) 766-8215; www.nps.gov/morr

Motts Military Museum, Inc. (39), Founded by Life member Warren Motts, this museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of all individuals that served in the United States Military. 5075 South Hamilton Rd., Grove-port OH, 43125-9336; Ph: (614) 836-1500; www.mottsmilitarymuseum.org

Mountain Post Museum (40), The Moun-tain Post Historical Center honors the his-tory of brave soldiers, past, present and future. Check for opening. Fort Carson, CO 80913; Ph: (303) 579-2908

Museum of Connecticut History at The Connecticut State Library (13), The Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Com-pany Collection. 213 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106; Ph: (860) 757-6535, Fax: (860) 757-6533

Museum

Road Trip Guide Pages 8-9

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Courtesy of the National Firearms Museum

Courtesy Springfi eld Armory copyright James Lagone

ArizonaArizona State Museum (2)ArkansasSaunders Memorial Museum (62)CaliforniaGene Autry Museum of Western Heritage (20) Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (45) ColoradoColorado Historical Society (11)Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum (12)Mountain Post Museum (40)ConnecticutThe Museum of Connecticut History at The Connecticut State Library (13)District of ColumbiaNational Museum of American History (Smith-sonian Institution) (46)Naval Historical Center (50)Saunders Memorial Museum (62)GeorgiaChickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park (8)National Civil War Naval Museum (82)IllinoisThe Art Institute of Chicago (4) Pritzker Military Library (58)Rock Island Arsenal Museum (60)KansasFrontier Army Museum (19)Kansas Museum of History (30)U.S. Cavalry Museum (69)KentuckyFrazier Historical Arms Museum (18)General George Patton Museum (21)Kentucky Military History Museum (31)MaineMaine State Museum (32)MarylandBaltimore Maritime Museum (5)U.S. Army Ordinance Museum (70)Massachusetts First Corps of Cadets Museum (15)Higgins Armory Museum (25)Museum of Springfi eld History at The Spring-fi eld Museums (85)Smith & Wesson Museum (63) Springfi eld Armory National Historic Site (64)

MissouriMissouri History Museum (35)Missouri State Museum (36)Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks (81)MontanaC.M. Russell Museum (7)Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS (23)Montana Historical Society (37)NebraskaMuseum of Nebraska History (41)Museum of the Fur Trade (42)

NevadaNevada State Museum (51)New JerseyMorristown National Historic Park (38)New MexicoFrank Brownell Museum of the Southwest (83) Roswell Museum and Art Center (61)Palace of the Governors (55)White Sands Missile Range (75)New York Fort Ticonderoga (17)Metropolitan Museum of Art (33)Watervliet Arsenal Museum (73) West Point Museum (74)

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Special Note: Ontario, Canada member, Frank Grant owns a museum 60 miles

north of Buffalo, The Canadian Military Studies Museum. (Send your recommenda-tions for other international museums for a

future edition. )

MusRoad Tr

North CarolinaRemington Arms Co. Museum (59)OhioMotts Military Museum, Inc. (39)National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (48)Ohio Historical Society (53) Warther Museum (77)OklahomaJ.M. Davis Arms Museum (27)National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center (43) Woolaroc Museum (76)Pennsylvania Dan Hardesty's Wild West Museum (84) Gettysburg National Military Park (22)Army Heritage Center (3)

TexasPanhandle-Plains Historical Museum (56) Texas Memorial Museum (66)Texas Military Forces Museum (67) Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum (68)UtahJohn M. Browning Memorial Museum (29)Pioneer Memorial Museum (57)

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Courtesy of the Cody Firearms Museum Samuel Hawken half

stock percussion rifl e, .59 caliber, 1849 - 1859. Buffalo Bill Historical Center Cody, WY.

Gift of William B. Ruger, Sr. and Sturm, Ruger and Company. 1997.4.12 Courtesy of National Firearms Museum

Courtesy Frazier Arms Museum

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VirginiaColonial Williamsburg (10) National Firearms Museum (44)National Museum of Marine Corps (47) U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum (72)WashingtonThe Aberdeen Museum of History (1) Washington D.C. Smithsonian Institute (79)West VirginiaHarper's Ferry Nt'l Historical Park (24)Huntington Museum of Art (80) WisconsinMilwaukee Public Museum Reference Library (Nunnemacher Collection) (52)WyomingCody Firearms Museum/Buffalo Bill Historic Center (9) Jim Gatchell Museum (28)Old West Museum (54) Union Pacifi c Historical Museum (71) Wyoming State Museum (78)

Museum of Nebraska History (41), Large collection in storage, only portion on exhi-bition. P.O. Box 82554, Lincoln NE 68508; Ph: (402) 417-4754 or 800-833-6747; email: educate@nshs.state.ne.us

Museum of the Fur Trade (42), Closed in winter but exhibits an outstanding array of artifacts related to the fur trade including Northwest trade guns and others. 6321 Hwy. 20, Chadron, NE 69337; Ph: (308) 432-3843; www.furtrade.org

Museum of Springfield History at The Springfield Museums (85) , "Gun Making in the Valley" Collection; 21 Edwards St., Springfi eld, MA 01103; Ph. (800) 625-7738; springfi eldmuseums.org

National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center (43), Houses

the Weitzenhoffer Gallery of Fine American Firearms. 1700 N.E. 63rd St., Oklahoma, OK 73111; Ph: (405) 478-2250

National Firearms Museum (44), Ex-tensive National Rifl e Assn. museum of both antique and modern arms. 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA 22030; Ph: (703) 267-1600

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (45), Hall of California History covers roughly four centuries of human history from 1540 to 1940 and spans the geographic area that is presently the United States Southwest. 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90007; Ph: (213) 763-3466

National Civil War Naval Museum (82) 40,000-square-foot facility that features two original Civil War military vessels, uniforms, equipment and weapons. 1002 Victory Dr., Columbus, GA 31901 (706) 327 9798 www.portcolumbus.org

National Museum of American History

(Part of the Smithsonian Institution) (46), 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20560; Ph: (202) 633-3950; www.americanhistory.si.edu;

National Museum of the Marine Corps (47), More than just tanks, aircraft, landing craft, weapons, and uniforms. 18900 Jef-ferson Davis Hwy., Triangle, VA 22172; Ph: (877) 635-1775; www.usmcmuseum.org

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (48), Military aviation history, 400+ aero-space vehicles, along with thousands of historical items and exhibits that bring his-tory to life and connect the Wright brothers’ legacy with today’s stealth and precision technology. 1100 Spaatz St., Wright-Pat-terson AFB, OH 45433; Ph: (937) 255-3286; www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

Naval Historical Center (50), Anything about the navy you would want to know. 805 Kidder Breese St. SE, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. 20374-5060

Nevada State Museum (51), Call for new museum opening. 600 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701-4004; Ph: (775) 687-4810, Fax: (775) 687-4333

Nunnemacher Collection of Firearms (52), Extensive American, European and Asian culture and technological collections with a focus on fi rearms technology. Lo-cated at Milwaukee Public Museum Refer-ence Library, 800 W. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53233-1478; Ph: (414) 278-2728

Ohio Historical Society (53), Main mu-seum located in Columbus with 50 historic sites and museums throughoutthe state. Some sites are closed/seasonal due to lack of funds. Firearms collection includes the engraved Cecil Brooks fl intlock rifl e from OGCA. 1982 Velma Ave., Columbus, OH 43211; Ph: (614) 297-2300 / (800) 686-6124; www.ohiohistory.org

Old West Museum (54), Showcases the spirit of the American West and preserves the history of Cheyenne Frontier Days. 4610 Carey Ave., P.O. Box 2720, Chey-enne, WY 82003; Ph: (307) 778-7290

Palace of the Governors (55), Collection highlights Rough Riders, Pancho Villa and Santa Fe Trail naming a few. 105 W. Pal-ace Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87504-2087; Ph: (505) 476-5100, Fax: (505) 476-5104

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum (56), Whole wing devoted to all kinds of fi rearms. 2503 4th Ave., Canyon, TX 79015; Ph: (806) 651-2244

Pioneer Memorial Museum (57), The museum basement houses an assortment of swords, guns, military apparel. 300 N. Main St., Salt Lake City, UT.

Courtesy of the Saunders Memorial Museum

Courtesy of the National Firearms Museum

Museums (Continued from pg. 7)

Courtesy of Frazier Historical Arms Museum

Continued

Pritzker Military Library (58), The incred-ible story of the Citizen Soldier in American History. 610 N. Fairbanks Court, 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60611

Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks (81) Large Firearm Collection at museum dedicated to preserving Ozark history. P O Box 17, Point Lookout, MO 65726 (417) 334-6411 ext. 3407 www.rfostermuseum.com

Remington Arms Co. Museum (59), Open only in summer but displays ex-amples of most models of guns made in the fi rm’s 189-year history. 870 Reming-ton Drive, P.O. Box 700, Madison, NC 27025-0700

Rock Island Arsenal Museum (60), Sec-ond Oldest US Army Museum. Many out-door military displays. The only U.S. Army facility that assembles tool sets, kits, and outfi ts that support equipment in the fi eld. Still makes mounts, recoil mechanisms, artillery carriages, and other combat equip-ment.) ATTN: AMSTA-RI-CF, Rock Island, IL 61299-5000; Ph: (309) 782-5021; Fax: (309) 782-3598

Roswell Museum and Art Center (61), Excellent exhibit of fi rearms as well as Native American artifacts. 100 W. Elev-enth St., Roswell, NM 88201; Ph: (505) 624-6722

Saunders Memorial Museum (62), Features a collection of guns which be-longed to Col. C.B. Saunders. Some of the displays include side arms of Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok, Pancho Villa, and Annie Oakley. May be seasonal. 115 E. Madison, Berryville, AR 72616; Ph: (870) 423-2563

Smithsonian Institute, A conglomerate of museums. Many fi rearms in their col-lection to be found at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, above. Washington D.C.; Ph: (202) 633-1000; email info@si.edu

Smith & Wesson Museum (63), Chang-ing exhibits at S&W Shooting Sports Cen-ter which sometimes include examples of pre-1900 S&W arms. Located in the factory building down the street from the store and shooting range. 2100 Roosevelt Ave., Springfi eld, MA 01104-1606; Ph: (800) 331-0852

Springfi eld Armory National Historic Site (64), Major exhibit of U.S. military arms. Much more in storage. One Ar-mory Square, Suite 2, Springfi eld, MA 01105-1299

Texas Military Forces Museum (67), Presents the history of the Texas Military from the Texas Revolution to the present. 2200 W. 35th St., Austin, TX 78703-1222;(512) 782-5659

Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum (68), Texas Ranger Artifacts & Exhibits. I-35 and University Parks Dr., Waco, TX 76702-2570; Ph: (254) 750-8631

U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum (72), The fi rearm collection is a good represen-tation of the evolution of fi ring systems used by the American Army since 1775. 1201 22nd St., Fort Lee, VA 23801-1601; Ph: (804) 734-4203

U.S. Cavalry Museum (69), Chronicles the American mounted horse soldier from the Revolutionary War to the 1950's. P.O. Box 2325, Ft. Riley, KS 66442-0325; Ph: (785) 784-5797; email: cavalry@fl inthills.com; www.uscavalry.org

U.S. Army Ordinance Museum (70), Includes exhibits of cavalry activities from their early beginnings in the Revolutionary War up to their modern deployment in the Persian Gulf. Aberdeen Proving Gound, MD; Ph: (410) 278-3602

Union Pacifi c Historical Museum (71), Signifi cant collection in storage. Check for current status of exhibit before visiting. P.O. Box 4006, Cheyenne, WY 82003; email: uphs@uphs.com

Warther Museum and Knife Factory (77) Unique wood carving and knifemak-ing museum. Dale Warther is an OGCA member. 331 Karl Ave, Dover, OH 44622 (330) 343-7513, www.warthers.com

Watervliet Arsenal Museum (73), Tells the story of Watervliet Arsenal as well as the history of the Big Guns and many

one-of-a-kind guns from the past 400 years. One Buffi ngton St., Watervliet, NY 12189-4003; Ph: (518) 266-5111

West Point Museum (74), Largest of its kind in the United States. Featured galler-ies: large weapons, small weapons, West Point, history of warfare, history of United States Army, and American wars. U.S. Military Academy, 2110 S. Post Rd., West Point, NY 10996; Ph: (914) 938-2203

White Sands Missile Range Museum (75), Outside the museum is a missile park displaying a variety of missiles and rockets tested at White Sands. WSMR, NM 88002; Ph: (575) 678-2121

Woolaroc Museum (76), Features famed Phillips collection of Colts including numer-ous Patersons. Rt. 3, Box 2100, Bartles-ville OK 74003; Ph: (888) 966-5276

Wyoming State Museum (78), Nelson Museum of the West houses a fi ne fi re-arms collection. 1714 Carey Ave., Chey-enne, WY 82001; Ph: (307) 635-7670; email: director@nelsonmuseum.com

...TO BE CONTINUED AT WWW.OGCA.COM

Museums (Continued from pg. 10)

Courtesy of the National Firearms Museum

OGCA MEETING DATES, DIRECTIONS, AND HOTELS

- INSIDE BACK COVER

See "Road Trip Guide" Pages 8-9

Museum Armory

National Treasure

!

Historic Site

Learning Center

Courtesy of Cody Firearms Museum