This is a fantastic, inside look at the inner workings of the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum and the exhibits within. RI PBS did a fantastic job on this professional production. Also, kudos go out to all of the volunteer staff who work every day at the Armory to preserve Rhode Island military history. This episode is online now!

From RI PBS: “The Varnum Military Museum in East Greenwich is home to an extensive collection of rare military pieces dating back to the earliest days of the American Revolution. There is also a look at delicate textile conservation.”

Though August tends to be a slower, quieter month for the Varnum Continentals, there has been a lot going on in the background. Here’s a quick update.

Our Varnum Memorial Armory Museum museum expansion and renovation projects are in a holding pattern while we wait to hear about a critical grant that we have applied for. If successful – and I believe the odds are in our favor – we will more than double our museum exhibit space. With this expansion, we’ll have new, dedicated displays focused on Rhode Island’s participation in the Spanish American War, World War I, the Cold War, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror. This expansion will involve taking various unused spaces and restoring them to their original early 1900s appearance while adding modern security and climate control systems.

I’d like to thank our many supporters who support our mission of preserving and sharing Rhode Island’s military history and heritage. We do this to promote patriotism and encourage service, service of all kinds to our state, country, and local communities. As an all-volunteer organization, we wholly depend on the generosity of the public. If you believe our history should be preserved, shared, and learned from, then we encourage you to donate today.