NRA museum

[CajunBass]

It was a sort of slow day here today, even too hot to go fishing, so my wife and I drove up to Fairfax, and went to the NRA museum.

We spent about three hours there, and really only scratched the surface. There was a lot of stuff there I knew what was, or had seen before, but a lot I had no idea about.

We didn't think to take the camera with us so I don't have any pictures but if you're ever in the area, it's well worth the visit.

 

[Magnum.35744]

Cool!

I just came back from the Colt Firearm Museum in Hartford Connecticut. Although only 200 firearms it was worth while. I told my mom that the NRA museum is next on my summer vacations...hey I’m young .

-Tre

 

[IonicDOG]

I went to the musuem also on my vacation from Louisiana, was very cool, the only thing i was bummed out about was that they didn't allow any cameras, so i wasn't able to snap any pictures, but all in all, awesome museum.

 

[yhtomit]

This goes on my list for "Things to do before leaving the East Coast"

Did anything in particular stick out as noteworthy? Is it Smithsonian quality as museums go? I like museums, I like guns, I wish I had time this weekend, when I will be semi-sorta-close (in Berryville, VA), but no dice.

timothy

 

[CajunBass]

I guess the thing that stood out to me, was how many people were there. Nothing like the crowd you'd expect at the Smithsonian of course, but still more people than I expected. I was suprised and pleased when a bus load of school aged children arrived too. Like most kids they were bored in 10 minutes at a museum, but at least someone thought it was the kind of place to take a bunch of kids.

I would say the displays were as good as any museum I've ever been in. They have everything from the earliest 'hand cannons" right up through the most modern arms (including a light saber from Star Wars). About the only "complaint" I had and this was minor is the display's aren't individually tagged. They have a number or letter beside them, and you have to find the legend either on the side of the display cabinet, or on computers that are located close to the display.

There are two dioramas that I really liked. One a scene from WWI and the other from WWII. If you like military weapons from that time period, you'll like them too. I'm a big "Tommy Gun" fan and there were several of them. Other individual guns I really liked were Annie Oakley's shot gun, and Ike's shotgun with the the inlaid 5 gold stars, and his initials inlayed on the triggerguard. Oh and Tom Sellecks "Quigley" Sharps. A Colt Patterson, a couple of Gyrojets (rifle and handgun), racks of Colt SAA's and Winchester lever actions.

All in all an enjoyable afternoon. We had wanted to stop by the range but it was closed.

 

[yhtomit]

CajunBass -- Thanks for the detailed writeup! That sounds great; even if they were bored in 10 minutes, I too am glad that someone brought a busload of kids.

BTW, not all that far from you, if you've never been there and are ever slightly into Maryland, is the NSA museum, which has some interesting weapons, as well as things like a (working! touchable!) German Enigma machine, as well as many other historical encryption / decryption devices. Well worth spending a few hours; the docents tend to be (or perhaps are all) retired NRA guys who know their stuff very well, and I'd guess are sick of telling friends and family that they can't talk about what goes on at work. At the museum, they can at least talk about the stuff *in the museum.*

timothy

 

[gopguy]

I was at the NRA museum about two weeks ago. Excellent displays. I also only had three hours. Not nearly enough time. However I had an appointment later that day. I do look forward to making another pilgrimage to Waples Mill road.

 

[tinygnat219]

For those of you that don't know, the NRA museum is free and open from 10-4 7 days a week.
It's definitely worth an afternoon to come down and take a look.
It's quality too. You won't go away disappointed.

Another good museum to visit is the USMC museum in Quantico. Also free, it has samples of firearms as well.

 

[Tigerseye]

Cajunbass -

I was put off a little bit by the display info at the NRA museum not being with the display but nearby on a computer screen.

I've been to the Winchester collection at the Cody Museum where the info is displayed next to the gun, and I found that cluttered looking.

I guess it's a no-win sistuation.

Tigerseye

 

[chris in va]

Too bad you guys didn't check out the NRA range while you were there. Pretty impressive to see an indoor 50 yard range.

 

[CajunBass]

We went around to the range, but there was a sign on the door saying it was closed. It was about 3:30 pm, which I don't think is their normal closing time, so they may have been doing maint or something. We're going back soon just to be able to say we've shot there.

Tiger, I agree it's probably a no win situation. With the number of guns they have in most of the display cases, it would be cluttered to have the information right there. The only real complaint I had with the computers was that a lot of them weren't working. (After watching a three or four year old pound on a keypad, I could see why. I mentioned to my wife, in my really outside voice, "And people wonder why the computers don't work?" The little darlings parents glared at me, but did stop the urchin from pounding on the keypad.) Overall though I liked the computers better, simply because it seems there was more information available there, than would have been on a card.

Aother good museum is the visitors center at Gettysburg National Military Park. I could spend a day or two in there.