Rock Island Arsenal Museum

There have been two museum locations. It was first founded in 1905 as the Ordnance Museum, later shutting down during World War I and reopening a few years later. It was renamed in 1919 to the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. The now renamed museum moved to a different location in 1948.[1]

The original museum was opened with donations from the 1904 World's Fair and the American Civil War ordnance warehouse.[3] The exhibits are about the people in Arsenal Island's history, its manufacturing processes, and the equipment it has produced.[2][4] There is a large display of more than 1,100 firearms that were used by the military, both from overseas or within the United States.[2][4] Five of these weapons were used at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Twenty-five percent of the collection's small firearms are not on display, including three rare rifles.[1] Jodean Murdock, education curator, says that the firearms get the most attention from visitors.[3]

The museum has a research center located in its basement, containing books, maps, manuals, and magazines, among others.[1] A Children's Discovery Room was created with uniforms and hats for children to try on.[5] Hygrothermographs and a thermostat are used to control the temperature and humidity in the collection rooms so that the items contained within them are not damaged.[1]

The museum collections were reduced in 2016, with almost 3,200 pieces being moved to a warehouse operated by the Army. There was also a large reduction in staff.[6] The museum's gift shop went out of business as well due to falling sales.[7]

• Official website