For as long as anyone can remember… indeed, for many decades … this once rusty, broken down, and nearly forgotten flintlock sat in a corner of the Varnum House Museum’s Keeping Room near the kitchen hearth. The brass trigger guard with its simple, hand-engraved symbols had come loose from the stock. The brass ram rod […]
[VIDEO] Varnum Memorial Armory Museum on WPRI’s “The Rhode Show”
As part of Friday’s On The Rhode series, the Rhode Show‘s Will Gilbert spent time with Armory Curator Patrick Donovan to feature some amazing historic artifacts that have recently been discovered inside the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum. Check out the video! Many thanks to Will Gilbert and The Rhode Show for helping the Varnum Continentals […]
[MEMBERS ONLY] SEPTEMBER GUEST SPEAKER: Frank J. Williams, Lincoln Scholar & Former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of RI
ONLY VARNUM CONTINENTAL MEMBERS MAY ATTEND THIS EVENT! TO JOIN, JUST CLICK HERE. The Varnum Continentals welcome Frank J. Williams, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, as the guest speaker at our September dinner meeting at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum on Monday, September 14, 2015. Williams is one of […]
[FEATURE ARTICLE] Rhode Island’s Charles Tillinghast James: An Artillery Pioneer
West Greenwich native Charles Tillinghast James was a product of the Industrial Revolution who achieved fame in such diverse areas as the textile industry, politics, and ultimately, munitions. It was the latter that brought him to his end and for which he is perhaps best remembered. James was born in 1805. From humble beginnings as […]
New Flags at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum!
We’ve been a bit flag challenged at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum for quite a while now due to old and worn out equipment. We’re happy to report that new flags have been re-mounted to the front of the armory museum with new hardware (along with solar-powered lights to keep them illuminated without wasting electricity). […]
[FEATURED EXHIBIT] George Washington’s Letter to James Mitchell Varnum (Battle of Red Bank, NJ)
We just completed a custom frame using high-quality museum glass to display George Washington’s letter to General James Mitchell Varnum (written on the eve of the Battle of Red Bank, NJ). We will proudly display this original letter in our museum for the public to see. BOOK A TOUR HERE: http://varnumcontinentals.org/book-a-tour/
[FEATURE ARTICLE] Young Charley Baker of Wickford: North Kingstown’s First Civil War KIA
In a quiet corner of North Kingstown’s Elm Grove Cemetery is the Baker family plot. Among those buried under a simple, moss-encrusted marker is Charles Cahoon Baker, who is said to be the first North Kingstown resident to die in battle during the Civil War. Charley was killed in the Battle of New Bern(e), North […]
Historic Canons at the Varnum Memorial Armory
In addition to a comprehensive military museum of smaller items, the Varnum Memorial Armory features numerous historic canons from both the Revolutionary War and Civil War. The following gallery provides a sample of our artillery exhibits. The Varnum Armory is available for tours by appointment only. To book a tour, call 401-885-4110, send an email, […]
Volunteers Tackle Varnum Armory Exterior Cleanup
Today was a busy day at the Varnum Memorial Armory in East Greenwich, RI! Members Mark Trimmer, Tim “Action” Jackson, and Armory Curator Patrick Donovan spent a day of “hard labor” removing weeds, stray trees, scrap wood, and discarded trash from the back of the armory and canon shed. It looks great after all their […]
[FEATURE ARTICLE] General George Patton: Master of the Sword
Few military exercises are as thrilling as the charge of a cavalry unit, sabers flashing as they face off against the enemy. Of course, in today’s advanced military arsenals, the saber has been relegated to ceremonial use. But as recently as the early days of World War II, you could have witnessed a cavalry charge. […]