About The Armory
Varnum Armory Museum
The Varnum Armory Museum displays the largest and best cared for collection of Rhode Island military history in existence. Our vast collection of art, uniforms, weaponry, flags, literature, documents, and other rare military ephemera spans from the 17th century to the American Revolution, the Civil War, and on through to the present day.
Some of the more treasured items include: the oldest flag in America, a letter authored by a Black solider in the 1st RI Regiment of 1778, letters written by George Washington and Nathaniel Greene, Civil War artillery, a Colt Gatling Gun of the 1st RI Machinegun Battery, several identified uniforms of RI Civil War soldiers, flintlock muskets hand made in RI, RI made military textiles, musical instruments used at the Battle of Bull Run by RI’s American Brass Band, as well as a very rare Pattern 1770 British carbine musket identified to a British NCO who was captured at the Battle of Saratoga. Perhaps the rarest item is a leather Artillery hat from 1775 marked to the United Train of Artillery, a RI militia unit that was one of the first units called up to fight in the American Revolution. The hat is one of only 5 US military hats in existence from the Revolution.
Many of the objects are one-of-a-kind and most are identified to specific Rhode Island persons or military units which gives us the means to tell much more enriching and interesting stories as we know where these objects were used and what historic events they were witnesses to or direct participants in.
As volunteers we work hard to share this collection with the public, and particularly our youth. We do this through regular public open houses, private tours, monthly member dinner meetings, member newsletters, school field trips, in-person and digital speaking events, podcast appearances, our website, and daily social media outreach.
Some of the more unique items in the museum collection include:
- The Byfield Flag, the oldest flag in America dates from 1695
- A letter authored by a formerly enslaved Black soldier in the 1st RI Regiment of 1778
- War-time letters written by George Washington and Nathaniel Greene
- Civil War artillery including the world-famous Gettysburg Gun and Bull Run Gun
- Colt Gatling Gun of the 1st RI Machinegun Battery
- Several identified uniforms of RI Civil War soldiers
- Flintlock muskets handmade in RI
- RI made military textiles
- Musical instruments used at the Battle of Bull Run by RI’s American Brass Band
- Pattern 1770 British carbine musket identified to a British NCO who was captured at the Battle of Saratoga.
- Leather Artillery hat from 1775 marked to the United Train of Artillery, a RI militia unit that was one of the first units called up to fight in the American Revolution. The hat is one of only a handful of US military hats in existence from the Revolution.
Many of the objects are one-of-a-kind and most are identified to specific Rhode Island persons or military units which gives us the means to tell much more enriching and interesting stories as we know where these objects were used and what historic events they were witnesses to or direct participants in.