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John Browning’s Remarkable Automatic Rifle: the BAR

March 11, 2018

Sitting on a display case in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum’s “World Wars Room” is a Model M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). Introduced late in ...

A Fowler Musket With a Rhode Island Connection

March 11, 2018

As we have come to discover, the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum archives are a genuine treasure trove. Armory Museum Curator Patrick Donovan and the rest ...

[MAR. 12 DINNER MEETING] Admiral William Sims Brings Baseball to England to Unify Allies in World War I

March 5, 2018

When the US entered World War I, the country was not fully prepared. Our Army had to be mobilized, expanded, and trained; our Navy was ...

Restored United Train of Artillery Militia Flag

February 18, 2018

At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum we have a hand-embroidered and fully restored militia flag for the United Train Of Artillery from Providence, RI. They ...

[FEB. 12 DINNER MEETING] 50 Tons of Fighting Fury: Navy PT Boats and their Crews

February 4, 2018

The news media called them “The Plywood Navy.” The Japanese called them “Devil Boats.” Historian, author, and lecturer Brian L. Wallin brings to life the ...

Bible of Alfred G. Gardner, American Civil War Hero

February 4, 2018

Another stunning and important Rhode Island historical artifact has been loaned to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum: the bible of Private Alfred G. Gardner of ...

World War I Splinter Fleet: The Sub Chasers that Challenged the U-Boat Menace

February 4, 2018

Over the past months, we’ve shared stories about the impact of World War I on the Ocean State. This time, here’s a look at one ...

Motorcycles on Main (Feb. 24-25, 2018)

February 1, 2018

CLICK HERE TO BUY ADVANCED TICKETS! On Saturday (10AM to 6PM) and Sunday (12PM to 5PM), February 24-25, the Varnum Continentals will host its first ...

Before and After: U.S. Civil War Forage Cap

January 14, 2018

There’s no such thing as a lost cause … Most would consider this U.S. Civil War 10th Rhode Island forage cap at the Varnum Memorial ...

Behind the Scenes at the Varnum Memorial Armory

January 13, 2018

Here we are learning how to make a dress form fit to a larger uniform. We use bubble wrap covered with archival tissue paper which ...

Latham Artillery Battery Confederate Guidon

January 13, 2018

This is the Latham Artillery Battery guidon (restored by the University of Rhode Island Conservation Laboratory). This historic flag is a powerful symbol of Rhode ...

Renovating the Varnum Armory Dining Room

January 1, 2018

We’ve started renovating another largely unused room at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum that has not changed since the 1920s. The Varnum Armory dining room ...

[JAN. 8 DINNER MEETING] World War I and Rhode Island: The Centennial Remembered

January 1, 2018

Our speaker this month is Matthew Baldwin McCoy, State Coordinator for the Rhode Island World War I Centennial Commission. Matt will share with us our ...

Rhode Island Service Organizations Rally to Serve the Troops in World War I

January 1, 2018

In the early years of World War I, the conflict seemed a long way away from America’s shores. President Woodrow Wilson had pledged to do ...

The glamorous work of museum exhibit conservation

December 9, 2017

Conservation work continues at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum! Here we are cleaning a World War I field uniform worn in France by a local ...

1889 George Washington bronze inaugural centennial commemorative medal

December 9, 2017

Here’s a neat little thing we found while cleaning in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum. This very large medallion is an 1889 George Washington bronze ...

Frock coat of Confederate General Francis M. Cockrell

December 9, 2017

This frock coat was worn by Brigadier General Francis Marion Cockrell. Recognized as one of the finest military commanders in the American Civil War on ...

The Lewis Light Machine Gun of World War I

December 9, 2017

At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum we have an exceptional example of a World War I Lewis light machine gun originally designed by an American, ...

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