Military - Overview
The Museum's superb military collections document the history of the men and women of the armed forces of the United States. The collections include ordnance, firearms, and swords; uniforms and insignia; national and military flags and banners; and many other objects.
The strength of the collections lies in their enormous depth. Some 3,000 military small arms and 2,400 civilian firearms document the mechanical and technological history of the infantryman's weapons from the beginning of the gunpowder era to the present. Among the 4,000 swords and knives in the collection are many spectacular presentation pieces. The collections also include Civil War era telegraph equipment, home front artifacts from both world wars, early computers such as ENIAC, Whirlwind, and Sage, and materials carried at antiwar demonstrations.
"Military - Overview" showing 305 items.
Page 1 of 31
The French Dahomey soldiers--Dahomey Village. 1666 Interpositive 1900
- Notes
- Same as RSN 12983
- Currently stored in box 3.2.45 [66]
- Date
- 1900
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Subject
- Exposition universelle internationale de 1900 (Paris, France)
- Local number
- RSN 25759
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
French Halberd
- Description
- Physical Description
- Forged steel with leather-wrapped wooden handle.
- General History
- The halberd was a versatile pole arm developed as an infantry weapon in the 13th century. It has an ax-like blade and a steel spike mounted on the end of a long shaft. By the time of the Seven Years War it was carried by sergeants as a symbol of rank and authority.
- ID Number
- AF*66750M
- catalog number
- 66750M
- accession number
- 229198
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The French Dahomey soldiers--Dahomey Village. [Active no. 1666 : stereo photonegative,] 1900
- Notes
- Company catalog card included
- Same as RSN 25759
- Currently stored in box 3.1.17 [223]
- Date
- 1900
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Subject
- Exposition universelle internationale de 1900 (Paris, France)
- Local number
- RSN 12983
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Review of the Russian Troops by the French President, Krasnoe Selo, August 25, 1897. 1090 Interpositive 1897
- Notes
- Similar to RSN 12422
- Currently stored in box 3.2.5 [184]
- Date
- 1897
- 1890-1900
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Local number
- RSN 19915
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
The French squadron in the harbor of Ville Franche, South France. 1607 Interpositive 1898
- Notes
- Similar to RSN 12924
- Currently stored in box 3.2.7 [188]
- Date
- 1898
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Local number
- RSN 20246
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
[MIlitary.] 1609 Interpositive 1905
- Notes
- Similar to RSN 12925
- Currently stored in box 3.2.7 [188]
- Date
- 1905
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- photographer
- Littleton View Co
- Local number
- RSN 20247
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
French Charleville Model 1763 Flintlock Musket, Surcharged "US"
- Description
- Physical Description
- French Charleville Model 1763 musket, surcharged "US" with bayonet.
- Specific History
- This French Charleville musket is stamped "US" on the metal lock plate.
- General History
- During the American War of Independence the French government supplied large quantities of muskets to the Continental army. Several arsenals in France produced muskets but the Charleville Model 1763 was the most common and soon all French muskets were referred to as "Charlevilles." In March 1777, some 25,000 Charleville muskets were received from France. George Washington implemented a resolution by the Continental Congress to stamp firearms as United States property to reduce theft.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Charleville
- ID Number
- 1985.0783.21
- accession number
- 1985.0783
- catalog number
- 1985.0783.21
- collector/donor number
- M4L
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
American Troops Supply Train
- Description
- Gouache and oil on paper. A group of American soldiers and horse-drawn carts laden with supplies are the subject of this busy scene. A large shell torn building is in the background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Aylward, William James
- ID Number
- AF*25645
- catalog number
- 25645
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Billeting Village Near Neufchateau
- Description
- Charcoal, crayon, watercolor, and gouache on heavy white card. The work depicts several buildings on a street in a village near Neufchâteau, France. The buildings are intact and not shell-torn. The painting shows the view down a road which leads through village.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Aylward, William James
- ID Number
- AF*25646
- catalog number
- 25646
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Billeting Village Near Neufchateau, Farm Building
- Description
- Charcoal, watercolor, and gouache on heavy white card paper. The work depicts a set of buildings on a farm near Neufchâteau, France. The farm buildings are detailed with their bricks, roofs, and chimneys. There is an outline of a road. A building is in the immediate foreground on the left although the entire building is not shown. The sky is partially blue, and there are some trees in the background.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1918
- associated person
- War Department
- artist
- Aylward, William James
- ID Number
- AF*25647
- catalog number
- 25647
- accession number
- 64592
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
