Rock Island Arsenal Museum

Happy Independence Day!

As we celebrate the country's 249th birthday, we are also celebrating the 119th birthday of the Rock Island Arsenal Museum!

Opened to the public on July 4, 1905 as The Ordnance Museum at Rock Island Arsenal, we are the U.S. Army's second oldest museum. The Museum has evolved many times over its 119-year history as shown in these images.

Today the Rock Island Arsenal Museum tells the story of Rock Island, its commands, the products manufactured here, the people who made them, and the processes used. We also explore the Army's Organic Industrial Base and how the Army supplies the Warfighter.

The local weather 200 years ago? Fair with a high of 19° and a low of 11°, winds out of the west.

A daily weather log was kept by the contract surgeons at Ft. Armstrong, and it is one of the oldest weather records in the state of Illinois.

Thanks to WQAD and David Bohlman for highlighting our holiday visitor, Rocky the Elf.

Come out to the Museum, Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm to see if you can spot Rocky as he explores the exhibits!

Rock Island Arsenal calling in a helping hand from friends up north This year the Rock Island Arsenal has had some assistance this holiday season from Rocky the Elf. He's been seen throughout the base including in their museum.

Rocky the Elf loves Tuesdays on post.

He enjoys Taco Tuesday at the Island Oasis Rock Island Arsenal FMWR
Plus he loves checking out the Arsenal Attic Thrift Shop for all his holiday shopping needs.

Rock Island Arsenal Welcome Club - RIAWC

He’s back!

Rocky the Elf is back on Temporary Duty (TDY) at Rock Island Arsenal! He will be posted at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, overseeing operations and making sure everyone stays on Santa's nice list!

Rocky appears to be getting along rather well with our recently reopened musuem, he is having fun exploring the new exhibits.

Stay tuned as we provide regular reports on throughout the holidays.

Want to escape the confines of your home and awkward family conversations… Come to the Museum!

We are open today (11/25/23) from 10am to 4pm.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Rock Island Arsenal Musuem! 🦃 🌽🍗🥧

Thanksgiving cartoon from the November 15, 1974 edition of The Target.

One of the most unique products made at Rock Island Arsenal is the Gettysburg Address plaque found at every National Cemetery.

Since 1909, the Arsenal has produced these plaques bearing the words spoken 160 years ago by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the "Soldier's National Cemetery" at Gettysburg, PA.

As recently as 2009, the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center has produced the plaques for National Cemeteries.

Today is National Button Day!

Here is a selection of buttons from our collection, including a GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) button on a captain’s uniform from the Civil War.

🚨 The Rock Island Arsenal Museum will be closed this Saturday, November 18th 🚨

The Museum will be closed on Saturday, November 11th for Veteran's Day.
🪖 🫡 🇺🇸

This past week, the Museum hosted a Veterans History event during which veterans from the Korean War through OIF/OEF shared their experiences for inclusion in the The Library of Congress Veteran's History Project.

Grassley team hosts veterans project at Rock Island Arsenal Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley’s team hosted a veterans project Friday at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. The Veterans History Project tracks first-hand accounts of American military veterans from …

The Museum will be closed this Friday, November 3rd for a special event.

We will be open for normal operations 10am-4pm on Saturday, November 4th.

The age old trick or treat warning about checking your children’s candy is nothing new... 🎃🍫💀

This article was scanned from the October 18th, 1974 edition of the “The Target” newspaper. “The Target” was a bi-weekly unofficial newspaper printed from 1968 to 2000 at Rock Island Arsenal.

Come get a double dose of history and visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum and Colonel Davenport House today!

The Museum is open Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

It’s 🎃

What are you planning to carve on to your pumpkin?

We went with the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps regimental crest.

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum will be closed this week for scheduled maintenance from Tuesday, October 24th through Friday, October 27th.

We will reopen on Saturday, October 28th.

We're having a roarin' good time at Boo on the Rock!

Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society
Rock Island Arsenal
Rock Island Arsenal FMWR

This week, the Museum hosted promotion ceremonies for three Army Sustainment Command NCOs who were promoted from SFC to MSG.

Congratulations to MSG Thibodeaux, MSG Reberon, and MSG Gladfelter.

Put down the pumpkin spice latte, the spooky season is here. 🎃

Today is Friday the 13th, and within our museum collection we have plenty of knives and face coverings to keep Jason Voorhees occupied…🔪🩸💀

During World War II, Rock Island Arsenal produced 85,000 .30 caliber Browning machine guns and more than 700,000 .30 caliber machine gun barrels.

This M1917A1 Browning machine gun was produced at Rock Island Arsenal. The production line for Browning machine guns was located in Buildings 66/67/68. Women, including black women workers, were hired in large numbers on this manufacturing line performing milling, finishing, and inspection work. This particular piece has has been cutaway to show the inner workings for teaching and instruction of Soldiers.

The M1917A1 was water-cooled, featuring a water-filled "jacket" around the barrel to keep it cool for extended firing of the machine gun. This machine gun and its variants were used by the U.S. military during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

To see this and more, visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Since reopening, we've welcomed 10,000 visitors to the Museum! 🎉🎉🎉

Thanks to everyone who has come out to visit the newly remodeled Museum, we look forward to our next 10,000 visitors.

Today Rock Island Arsenal is hosting the Illowa Council, Boy Scouts of America's camporee.

The Museum is on the Heritage Trail where scouts are learning about the history of the Arsenal and future opportunities.

in 1942, Rock Island Arsenal was presented the Army-Navy "E" award..

The Army-Navy "E" pennant for Excellence in Production was presented to Arsenal Commander, BG Norman Ramsey by MG Levin Campbell, Jr., U.S. Army Chief of Ordnance before a crowd of 25,000 people.

To learn more about the Arsenal's contributions during WWII, visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. Admission is FREE.

in 1864 the 108th Infantry Regiment, United States Colored Troops, arrived by railroad at Rock Island Prison Barracks to guard Confederate prisoners. They served at the prison barracks until the end of the Civil War.

To learn more about the 108th and Rock Island Prison Barracks visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. Admission is FREE.



[Pictured: Mannequin wearing a reproduction uniform of a soldier of the 108th USCT and an image of the 108th USCT standing guard duty at Rock Island Prison Barracks, ca. 1864.]

in 1918, Cora De Wilfond became the first woman motorcycle driver employed at Rock Island Arsenal. She ran errands from Storehouse A to various points on the island and surrounding area. Before she was permitted to drive the motorcycle, she had to take a special driving course at the golf course.

To learn more about Cora and the fascinating stories of the Arsenal's workforce, visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum! Open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm.



[Pictured: Cora De Wilfond in her regulation uniform standing next to the motorcycle she drove at the Arsenal, ca. 1918]