Author Archives: gwebs

Harding Collection – Art Institute of Chicago

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200 guns (75 on display)

Created in 1982

Chicago, IL

George F. Harding collection of Arms & Armor

  • 1939 George F. Harding, Jr. died
  • 1982 George F. Harding collection of Arms & Armor was  granted to the Art Institute of Chicago
  •  European and Asian arms and armor made from 1450s – 1850s
  • German, French and Italian match-lock, wheel-lock and flint-lock hunting rifles, pistols
  • publicly accessible pull out drawers, revealing firearms

https://archive.artic.edu/arms-and-armor/harding/

https://bennicholson.com/guns/Art-Institute-of-Chicago-Harding-Collection.html

Mid-South Institute of Self-Defense Shooting

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founded in 1981

  • 1987 moved 5 miles out of Memphis
    -devoted exclusively to training military, police and government agencies
  • 1988 expanded facilities to three new ranges and military drop zone
  • 1990 second lodging house and two more ranges were added
  • 1996 third lodging house and 18 additional ranges added
  • operated by the original owner John Shaw

Lake Cormorant, Mississippi

http://weaponstraining.com/

Boot Hill Museum

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200+ guns on display

Opened in October 1978

Dodge City, KS

  • “Guns That Won the West” exhibit
  • collection started in the 1870s
  • 1932 the Beeson Museum opened
  • 1964 Many items were obtained from the Beeson Museum when it closed
  • Open every day
  • Adult $12 / Child $9

Guns that Won the West on display at the Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas
They have guns of the Frontiersman, guns of the Buffalo Hunters, guns of the Gamblers, guns of the Lawman, guns of the Outlaws, and an extensive hand cuff collection. and a Old West Jail Cell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feqgE6D26zA

Also on display at the Dodge City Museum are Winchester Firearms and Colt Firearms

Boot Hill Museum
500 West Wyatt Earp Boulevard
Dodge City, Kansas 67801
(620) -227-8188
BootHill.org

John M. Browning Museum

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Over 90 Original Prototypes & Production Models on diplay

Opened in October 1978

Ogden, Utah


Over 90 Original Prototypes & Production Models of Browning’s firearms
See Browning’s Three Factories in Ogden !!
Open every day
$5 for adults and $3 for children

2501 Wall Ave Ste 201
Ogden, UT 84401

Utah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loeCj0YOyj8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zDkXppdHSI&t=1s

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

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 10,000 guns (1,500 on display)

1978 Springfield Armory National Historic Site opens

Springfield, MA 


1794-1968

  • Long-barreled muskets of 1795
  • Springfield Model 1816
  • M1861
  • Krag-Jorgenson
  • Erskine Allin’s M1873 Trapdoor
  • Bolt action 1903 Springfield
  • M1 Garand
  • M14
  • M60 machine gun
  • Firearms donated by Presidents:
    Kennedy, Eisenhower, Roosevelt, and Wilson
  • Many prototypes
  • Cutaway ‘skeletonized’ guns for instruction
  • 1777 George Washington approves the site & establishes the Arsenal
  • 1787 Shays’ Rebellion happens at the armory
  • 1794 First national armory began manufacturing muskets
    – 40 employees
    – produced a few hundred 1795 Flintlock Muskets each year
  • 1798 Watershops established on Mill River (to provide water power)
  • 1818 the first replicating machines
  • 1819 the first Blanchard Lathe
  • 1843 “The Arsenal at Springfield” poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • 1862 Harpers Ferry armory is destroyed (Springfield is the only manufacturer)
  • 1892 Krag-Jorgensen rifle is adopted
  • 1903 Springfield M1903 rifle goes into service
  • 1919-1953 John Garand was employed at the Springfield Armory until his retirement
  • 1936 M1 Garand introduced (3.7 million produced)
  • 1940 Main Arsenal (the current museum) Building 104 is completed
    – for mass production of the M1 Garand
  • 1941 John Garand gets Meritorious Civilian Service Award
  • During World War II, over 14,000 workers
    – many women were the WOW, Women Ordnance Workers
  • April 1968 Factory closes
  • 1974 Designated a National Historic Site
  • 1978 Springfield Armory National Historic Site opens
  • the world’s largest collection of historic American military firearms
  •  Year-round public programs, exhibits, and special events
  • Benton Small Arms Museum
  • Springfield Armory Historic Library
  • Armory Memorabilia Collection
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Museum entry is FREE.
Plenty of parking available.

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Springfield Armory National Historic Site
One Armory Square
Suite 2
Springfield, MA 01105

Phone: (413) 734-8551

https://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm

https://bennicholson.com/guns/Springfield-Armory-Museum.html