General George S. Patton: Master of the Sword
In the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum collection, we have an outstanding representation of American and foreign saber evolution. Among them is the last American design: the M1913 Army model, designed and advocated by none other than General (at the time, Lieutenant) George S. Patton, Jr.
Varnum’s 1st Rhode Island Regiment Proposed for Congressional Gold Medal
On February 9, 2022, Rhode Island’s congressional delegation, joined by a number of congressmen and senators from both parties, introduced legislation (H.R.6660/S.3607) to award a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) honoring the First Rhode Island. The regiment would become known as Varnum’s Continentals from which we take our name as a historic state militia.
Westerly’s Forgotten Coast Defense Fortification on Napatree Point: The Story of Fort Mansfield
Westerly’s Forgotten Coast Defense Fortification on Napatree Point: The Story of Fort Mansfield
Scalloptown Then and Now: A look back at the East Greenwich Shoreline
Most of us with a connection to history call to mind East Greenwich (EG), RI, as “The Birthplace of the American Navy”. But, long before the American Revolution, EG was a thriving seaport and home to men who fished the sea or dug for shellfish in the bountiful waters of Greenwich and Narragansett Bays.
Thomas Nichols Letter at the Varnum Armory … a Stunning 18th-Century African American Artifact
Tired and tempted to just throw it all away, I stuck my hand one more time into a large moldy cardboard box filled with random receipts, notes, and other mid-20th-century detritus. It had belonged to one of our founding members who had long since passed. Digging through this old box was part of a (still on-going) gargantuan effort to properly re-pack everything in storage at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum located at 6 Main St. here in East Greenwich, RI.
Rhode Island’s Namesake Warships: Past, Present, and (Maybe) Future
The first ship to bear the name Rhode Island was a side-wheeler, built in New York as the commercial steamship John P. King. She was launched in 1860 and soon after was serious damaged by fire. Rebuilt and renamed Eagle, she was purchased by the Navy in June of 1861 and commissioned USS Rhode Island.
Caring for the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum’s Treasured Artifacts: Conservator Maria Vazquez
The Varnum Continentals collect artifacts that represent our national and local military history. A key aspect of museum management is the conservation of artifacts ensuring they are properly preserved. Our collection includes firearms, bladed weapons, and personal gear used by soldiers. Many soft goods, such as flags and uniforms, require a special type of conservation expertise. And, it is here that the Varnums have gained the valued presence Maria Vazquez, a highly skilled textile conservator as a member of our volunteer family.
Protecting the Troops: Evolution of the German Combat Helmet
The collection of the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum contains a significant array of head coverings from combatants on all sides ranging from the American Revolution through the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II, and into the recent past.
What Happened to Submarine S-51 Off Block Island?
Submarines carry both a unique danger and special mystique to their volunteer crews. Although there have been instances of submariners escaping or rescued from their boat when it sank either by accident or in combat, usually, when a submarine ran into trouble, it meant a one-way trip to Davy Jones’ locker. However, it was the […]
An Army in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum
Growing up, how many of us played with toy soldiers? Some were metal. Many were green plastic. But all gave us hours of enjoyment as we fought mock battles on sandpiles and in the grass. Prominently displayed in the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, however, is a collection of tiny soldiers representing a broad swath of history.