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 175 items.
Page 1 of 18
McClellan Saddle
- Description
- Physical Description
- Leather seat, straps, and skirt with wooden stirrups.
- General History
- Captain George B. McClellan toured Europe with a military commission looking at new military tactics. He returned and developed a new modified cavalry saddle. In 1859, the U.S. War Department adopted the McClellan saddle. They remained the standard issue throughout the history of the horse cavalry. The saddle was simple and less expensive than most. It was light enough not to weigh down the horse, yet it was sturdy and gave good support to the rider and his gear. In its original form the seat was covered with rawhide but was changed to leather in later incarnations. It featured a thick leather skirt and a leather covering for wooden stirrups. In addition, there was a girth strap made of woolen yarn. The McClellan saddle was placed on top of a saddlecloth, shabrack, or saddle blanket.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- designer
- McClellan, George B.
- ID Number
- AF*273382A
- accession number
- 54537
- catalog number
- 273382A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Warm Weather Gear
- Description
- Physical Description
- Model 1941 herringbone-twill warm weather jacket and matching herringbone-twill trousers. Herringbone-twill cap.
- Specific History
- This type of warm weather gear was worn by soldiers during the Korean War. On hot and humid summer days in Korea, temperatures often topped 100° Fahrenheit.
- associated date
- 1941 - 1945
- ID Number
- AF*79399M
- catalog number
- 79399M
- accession number
- 320748
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Combat Boots
- Description
- Physical Description
- Leather tops and leather cuffs with double strap and buckles. Seven eyelets; interior of straps lined in white canvas. "EJ/HTS" in relief on sole, "RUSSELL HATCH 57100176" handwritten in ink on inside cuff.
- date made
- ca 1952
- ID Number
- 1978.0260.086
- accession number
- 1978.0260
- catalog number
- 1978.0260.086
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Naval Jumper
- Description
- Physical Description
- White cotton with gunner's mate patch on left sleeve.
- Specific History
- This jumper or shirt would have been worn by an enlisted seaman.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1890
- ID Number
- 1982.0544.12
- catalog number
- 1982.0544.12
- accession number
- 1982.0544
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Field Telephone
- Description
- Physical Description
- Model EE-8-A field telephone, leather case.
- General History
- American Electric military field phone, model EE-8-A. The phone is encased in leather. The handset is marked American Electric and there is a magneto crank.
- manufacturer
- American Electric Co., Inc.
- ID Number
- 1985.0335.22
- catalog number
- 1985.0335.22
- accession number
- 1985.0335
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Mexican Army Frock Coat
- Description
- Physical Description
- Blue wool with red edging and facings. Guilt buttons and gold-colored shoulder strap.
- Specific History
- This uniform coat would have been worn by a lieutenant in the Artillery of the Mexican army.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1840
- associated date
- 1846 - 1848
- ID Number
- AF*16156
- catalog number
- 16156
- accession number
- 13152
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Infantry Private's Coat
- Description
- Physical Description
- Dark-blue cloth lined with white serge and edged with white kerseymere. Brown leather forage cap with slightly darker leather bill.
- General History
- The soft leather forage cap was introduced in 1833. There seems to be no historical reason for the distinct change in the style of the cap. Since soldiers wore their uniforms day and night, it has been reported that the forage cap came in handy at night. With the strap buckled under the chin tightly it was a big help, according to one hospital steward, "to keep out of our ears, ear-wigs, centipedes, cockroaches, etc."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1840
- associated date
- 1834 - 1851
- ID Number
- AF*22729 [dup2]
- catalog number
- 22729
- accession number
- 64127
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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
Doughboy Uniform
- Description
- Physical Description
- Brown wool button-down jacket and brown wool breeches.
- General History
- Enlisted soldier's uniform. The brown, doughy color of the uniform led to these soldiers being referred to as "doughboys," though the exact derivation of the nickname has been debated.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- early 20th century
- associated date
- 1917-1918
- ID Number
- 1977.0082.06
- accession number
- 1977.0082
- catalog number
- 1977.0082.06
- 81199M
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Model 1910 Entrenching Tool
- Description
- Physical Description
- Wooden handle attached at a right angle to a wooden shaft with a metal, concave, pointed plate.
- General History
- The Model 1910 entrenching tool or shovel was carried on the soldier's back under the meat can and cover and on top of the haversack and pack carrier. Initially called a "shovel," it was soon officially designated an "entrenching tool," which was shortened to "e-tool."
- ID Number
- 1978.0853.04
- accession number
- 1978.0853
- catalog number
- 1978.0853.04
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center