featured exhibit Archives - Page 3 of 4

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters

August 15, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters

Some objects have the power to create an instant sense of awe and humbleness…this is one of those objects.

At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we now have the Springfield rifle carried by African American, Isaac J. Winters, of Company F 43rd U.S. Colored Troops during the American Civil War. He fought heroically in — and survived despite being wounded — some of the War’s most horrific combat.

Springfield Rifle belonging to African American Civil War Veteran Isaac J. Winters

This will be part of an upcoming special new exhibit on African American artifacts of the U.S. Civil War. As part of the display, we will tell the wider story of slavery in Rhode Island and how slaves in Rhode Island made the gradual move from this ugly institution to being fighting soldiers and eventually full citizens of our state and country.

Theses objects come to us from Angelo Scarlato who is allowing us to share a small part of his immense and important collection of African American history. Thank you for your generosity, Angelo!

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Prototype Gazda 20mm Cannon Shell from World War II

August 11, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

This is a fascinating bit of Rhode Island history…

An Austrian Count and World War I ace, Antoine Gazda, moved to Rhode Island and lived in the Biltmore Hotel (Providence, RI) for all of World War II, where he was guarded 24 hours a day in secret as he developed an aircraft version of his 20mm cannon. This shell casing at the Varnum Memorial Amory Museum was the first round fired from his prototype.

We’re doing more research to understand the prototype and its level of success.

Gazda 20mm Cannon Prototype Shell
Gazda 20mm Cannon Prototype Shell
Antoine Gazda

[FEATURED GALLERY] Unpublished World War II images from the 76th Division Artillery

August 4, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

Here’s a special treat! At the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum, we have a photo album that belonged to a member of the 76th Division Artillery in World War II.

We’re certain that these have never been published before. Some images are captured from the Germans.

76th Recon Bn. Note that most of the troopers have German pistols and the variety of US weapons- M1A1 Thompson, M3 Geasegun, etc.
Captioned “Wrecked Nazi planes on
the road top Burgstadt, Germany”
On the back of the next image.
Surrendering Germans with a Kubelwagon, their attempt at a Jeep.
More defeated German soldiers.
On the back of the next image.
Hand grenade fishing removes a lot of the challenge….
Caption says plane was shot down by the 76th Divisions anti-aircraft artillery.
On the back of the next image.
Not all POWs were re-homed like this, but I’m sure he was a welcome exception.
American GI poses in an abandoned Stuka, long obsolete by 1945.
Destroyed Heinkel 111 bomber, Germany 1945
76th Division soldiers pose with two captured German railroad guns.
Abandoned Junkers 87 “Stuka” dive bomber in Germany, 1945.
Captured German photo from Russia, 1941
On the back of the next image.
Destroyed Soviet armor; captured German photo.
On the back of the next image.
Destroyed Soviet fighter planes; captured German photo.
German artillery in Russia, 1941/42. Captured photo.
Jeep
US Armor on a train, most appear to have battle damage.
Knocked out German Panther tank.
Same Panther tank. Close-up on damage.
US Armor on a train, most appear to have battle damage.
Stuart light tanks.
Wrecker German night fighter, Germany, 1945
French Renault FT-17 light tank from World War I with German graffiti; France, 1945

[FEATURE EXHIBIT] 17th Century Fowler Birding Gun Restored by the Varnum Continentals

April 5, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

This ancient Fowler was purportedly carried by Thomas Gould of North Kingstown as he patrolled the beaches of Quidnesset watching for Tory and British ships during the American Revolutionary War. It is a conglomeration of early European parts and some crude American-made parts. This old flintlock birding gun dates from the late 1600s to early 1700s. The stock had been broken in three places and was missing the ram rod and ram rod pipes.

It has been lovingly restored by Varnum member, Russ Malcolm, and is on display at the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum.

[FEATURED EXHIBIT] Revolutionary War Rhode Island United Train of Artillery leather cap

June 22, 2018 By James Mitchell Varnum

Our Rhode Island United Train of Artillery leather cap (worn during the Revolution by Benajah Carpenter) has safely returned to the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia,PA.

Carpenter was killed in action at the Battle of Long Island presumably while wearing it. One of the rarest and historically most significant objects in our collection, the hat is one of only a very small handful of U.S. military hats from the Revolutionary War that survive today.

“For our Country” and, in Latin, “In God We Hope” adorns the front of the wavy bill. This is an American treasure and the Varnum Continentals are happy to have shared it with tens of thousands of people from across the nation.