The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford holds Samuel and Elizabeth Colt’s personal collection of firearms, edged weapons and armor, given to the museum in 1905.
Don’t miss
- Wooden revolver model carved by young Samuel Colt at sea
- Colt Walker holster pistol
- Collier’s Patent flintlock revolver (1820-21)
- Colt factory prototype firearms
- Presentation pieces given to Colt by foreign rulers
Our notes
Samuel Colt’s widow, Elizabeth Hart Jarvis Colt, gave his personal collection to the Wadsworth Atheneum in 1905. It includes the wooden model revolver Colt carved as a young sailor, the rare pre-1830 revolving guns he studied, Colt prototypes, fine production guns and gifts from European royalty.
Pair it with the Colt Collection at the Museum of Connecticut History a few blocks away.
Timeline
- 1905 Elizabeth Colt donates Samuel Colt’s collection
Plan your visit
- Only selected Colt firearms are shown, within the American Decorative Arts galleries
- Free admission on the second Saturday of each month
Folding these back up is not required. For more gun maps, see 2A Gun Law Maps
Nearby on the guide
More history: All firearm museums · Connecticut guide