The glamorous work of museum exhibit conservation
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 East Greenwich, RI, resident. This Bissel vacuum has the perfect attachment for cleaning moth residue without stressing the fabric or seams. It’s slow and tedious work. Every crevice has to […]
1889 George Washington bronze inaugural centennial commemorative medal
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 inaugural centennial commemorative medal! A Skinner Auctions catalog described another example of this same medal: George Washington Bronze Inaugural Centennial Medal, Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848–1907), modeled by Philip Martiny (1858-1927), 1889, […]
Frock coat of Confederate General Francis M. Cockrell
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 both sides of the war, he gained fame during the Siege of Vicksburg and, following promotions to brigadier general in 1863, went on to fight in the Atlanta Campaign and […]
The Lewis Light Machine Gun of World War I
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, Isaac Newton Lewis, but rejected by US Ordinance. Lewis took his design to Belgium, where it was received with some enthusiasm. Prior to the fall of Belgium to the Germans […]
American Civil War Tin Type of Rhode Island’s James Winterbottom
This American Civil War tin type photograph at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum shows North Smithfield native Private James Winterbottom of Troop C of the 1st Rhode Island Cavalry. He enlisted on August 4, 1861 and served until December 1864. He must have seen a lot of action including the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Second […]
Books: 1852 “Pictorial Life of George Washington” and an 1885 “Barner’s Brief History of the United States”
Here’s another great donation to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum‘s collection: an 1852 edition of a “Pictorial Life of George Washington” and an 1885 “Barner’s Brief History of the United States”. Fantastic images in both books! Thank you Joanne and Mike Breslin!
Tail fin from a World War II Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf fighter plane
The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum received a fascinating new donation from new Varnum Continentals member, Richard Clarke. His grandfather, a World War II radio operator and mechanic with the Army Air Force, acquired this piece of wreckage from a German airplane. This is part of a tail fin from a Focke-Wulf FW 190, a mainstay […]
First US Flag to enter Germany after Armistice
The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum now has on display the first US flag to cross into Germany after the signing of the Armistice concluding World War I. This July 1919 Providence Journal newspaper article details the great story behind the first US flag to cross into Germany (now on display at the Varnum Memorial Armory). […]
New Display Cases for the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum
The Varnum Memorial Armory Museum has acquired two gorgeous early 1900s display cases with their original wavy glass panes intact. We’ve cleaned up one and created a new display of U.S. Civil War objects previously hidden away. Many thanks Nanci Thompson and Briarbrook Auctions!
Remnant From the First British Revolutionary War Flag taken from the English by the American Colonists
Every so often we still find incredible bits of U.S. history tucked away in a corner at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum. This framed note with a tiny bit of fabric is the latest. After transcribing the note and some Googling, we discovered that it is a remnant from the first British Revolutionary War flag […]