![[FEBRUARY 15 DINNER MEETING] Barbed Wire College: Rhode Island and the Secret POW Camps of World War II](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/feature_wallin_february_2016-1024x413.jpg)
EVENT UPDATE: Due to the possibility of a winter storm, the Varnum Members Meeting scheduled for February 8 has been postponed one week. The new meeting date is MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15. PLEASE RSVP AGAIN: If you have already RSVP’d and plan to attend the February 15 meeting, please RSVP again by FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, to […]
[FEATURE ARTICLE] The Famed Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver Joins the Varnum Memorial Armory Collection
![[FEATURE ARTICLE] The Famed Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver Joins the Varnum Memorial Armory Collection](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/feature_44-caliber-Colt-Model-1860-Army-Revolver-1024x413.jpg)
When I was growing up in Connecticut, my father was a state government executive based in Hartford and I can recall often passing by the Colt Firearms Company with its signature dome located just outside the city. As a youngster, I had the chance to tour the factory and remember seeing some of the famed […]
[FEATURE ARTICLE] A Conversation with Armory Curator Patrick Donovan
![[FEATURE ARTICLE] A Conversation with Armory Curator Patrick Donovan](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/feature_donovan01-1024x413.jpg)
Departing from our usual article of historic interest, this month we spoke with Armory Vice President & Museum Curator Patrick Donovan about some of the exciting developments going on both in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum building and our collection. Q. Tell us a little about yourself. What brought you to Rhode Island? How did […]
[FEATURED EXHIBIT] 1804 Passport Signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison!
![[FEATURED EXHIBIT] 1804 Passport Signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison!](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/feature_jefferson-madison-1024x413.jpg)
Look what we just found! Yet ANOTHER treasure in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum archives. This is an 1804 ship’s passport signed by President Thomas Jefferson AND then Secretary of State James Madison. If you’d like to see this and other fantastic exhibits, then book a tour at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum!
[JANUARY DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: John McNiff, Roger Williams National Memorial
![[JANUARY DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: John McNiff, Roger Williams National Memorial](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/feature_john-mcniff-1024x413.jpg)
The Varnum Continentals welcome John McNiff, a Ranger with the National Park Service at the Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence, as our guest speaker at the January Varnum Members Meeting on Monday, January 11, 2016. This dinner is open to Varnum Members and their guests, and is held at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum […]
[FEATURED EXHIBIT] New Artifacts from the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry
![[FEATURED EXHIBIT] New Artifacts from the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/feature_1st_ri_cav-1024x413.jpg)
Christmas came early for the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum. We just acquired several wonderful identified artifacts from the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry, a hard-fighting unit in the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. Thank you, Brendan Synnamon and your shop, The Union Drummer Boy, for putting all these things together! HISTORY: 1st Rhode […]
[FEATURE ARTICLE] Jamestown’s Conanicut Battery: A Revolution Restoration
![[FEATURE ARTICLE] Jamestown’s Conanicut Battery: A Revolution Restoration](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/feature_Conanicut_Battery-1024x413.jpg)
This month, we mark the 240th anniversary of the infamous Burning of Jamestown by British and Hessian troops, a story we’ll share on these pages in the future. In this issue, we’ll take a look at another location not far from the destructive track taken by forces of the Crown on December 10-11, 1775. Our […]
[DECEMBER DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: Tim Gray of the World War II Foundation
![[DECEMBER DINNER MEETING] Guest Speaker: Tim Gray of the World War II Foundation](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/feature_tim_grey-1024x413.jpeg)
We are honored to welcome Tim Gray (Chairman of the World War II Foundation and national award-winning documentary film maker) as our guest speaker at the December 2015 Varnum Members Meeting. The World War II Foundation is one of the world’s leading non-profit organizations committed to educating future generations about the personal stories of the […]
[SPEAKING PROGRAM] November Varnum Member Dinner & Speaking Program Features Brian Wallin: “Edson F. Gallaudet — A Rhode Island Aviation Pioneer”
![[SPEAKING PROGRAM] November Varnum Member Dinner & Speaking Program Features Brian Wallin: “Edson F. Gallaudet — A Rhode Island Aviation Pioneer”](http://varnumcontinentals.org/new_site45/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/feature_november_meeting-1024x413.jpg)
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO VARNUM MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS. Drive north of East Greenwich along Post Road, and you’ll see a handsome white-shingled house on the corner of Alger Avenue. It is all that remains of the Gallaudet Aircraft Company, brainchild of Edson Fessenden Gallaudet, a Rhode Island aviation pioneer. Varnum Trustee Brian Wallin […]
Beer Tasting Fundraiser to Feature Rare Civil War Canon
In preparation for our Guns & Beer VI Annual Beer Tasting Fundraiser (Saturday, November 14), we successfully moved the Civil War James cannon (click here for more information about this canon) from our canon shed to the Varnum Memorial Armory’s drill hall today. This very rare 19th century canon is being brought out as a […]