J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum

09/02/2026

TELL IT LIKE IT IS: BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”

Booker T. Washington knew something about obstacles.

Born into slavery in 1856, he was still a child when the Civil War ended and freedom came.

Education did not come easily. Washington worked, saved, traveled, and studied because he believed learning could change a life.

That belief eventually led him to become the first leader of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Under his leadership, Tuskegee grew into one of the most important educational institutions for Black Americans.

Washington believed strongly in education, work, economic advancement, and self reliance.

His ideas also created debate.

Some praised his practical approach.

Others believed he was too willing to accept segregation and inequality.

Booker T. Washington was influential, complicated, and impossible to separate from the challenges of his time.

But one thing is clear.

His own life reflected the words attributed to him.

Success was not simply where he ended up.

It was everything he had to overcome to get there.

And that is telling it like it is.

09/02/2026

DO YOU REMEMBER WALTER CRONKITE?

For an entire generation of Americans, Walter Cronkite was more than a television news anchor.

He was a trusted voice in the living room.

Born in 1916, Cronkite began his career as a journalist and war correspondent. During World War II, he reported from Europe and covered some of the most important events of the conflict.

He later became the anchor of the CBS Evening News, a position he held from 1962 until 1981.

During those years, Cronkite reported on some of the defining moments in American history.

The assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The Vietnam War.

The Civil Rights movement.

The Apollo moon landing.

Watergate.

Presidential elections.

National tragedy and national triumph.

Cronkite became known for delivering the news calmly and directly. He did not need theatrics. He did not need to shout.

He simply told America what had happened.

At the end of his broadcasts came the words millions of viewers recognized instantly:

“And that’s the way it is”.

The phrase became so closely associated with Cronkite that it remains part of American broadcasting history.

For younger generations, Walter Cronkite may simply be a name from another era.

For those who watched him night after night, he represented something different.

A familiar face.

A steady voice.

And a belief that the news should help people understand the world around them.

Start looking for this famous tag line in some of our upcoming America 250 Unsung Heroes posts.

Some stories deserve a dramatic reveal.

Some deserve to be told exactly as they happened.

And sometimes, after looking at the facts, there is only one way to end the story.

“And that’s the way it is”.



Image: https://picryl.com/media/walter-cronkite-on-television-1976-9bc94e

09/01/2026

There’s more to discover at the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum than you might expect!

Yes, we are home to one of the world’s largest collections of fi****ms, but we are an arms AND historical museum, and history is waiting around nearly every corner.

Explore our American Revolution exhibit and step back into the era that shaped a new nation. From period clothing and historic documents to artwork, weapons, and everyday objects, the exhibit helps tell the story of America’s fight for independence as we approach America’s 250th anniversary.

Then take time to experience Norman Rockwell: In Search of America, featuring memorable Saturday Evening Post covers and the unmistakable storytelling that made Rockwell one of America’s most recognized artists.

And those are only two stops along the way.

Motorcycles. Military history. Artwork. Historic artifacts. Americana. And, of course, an extraordinary fi****ms collection.

The fun of visiting the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum is never quite knowing what you’ll find around the next corner.

If it has been a while since your last visit, come see us again. You may be surprised by just how much there is to discover.

J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum
Claremore, Oklahoma

08/31/2026

Honoring Two New Eagle Scouts at the J.M. Davis Museum

Saturday evening, the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum was honored to host an Eagle Scout Court of Honor for two outstanding young men from Troop 828.

Congratulations to Eagle Scouts Connor Johnson (left) and Trenton Tobey (right) on achieving one of the highest and most respected accomplishments in Scouting.

The rank of Eagle Scout has a proud history dating back to 1912, when Arthur R. Eldred became the first Scout to earn the distinction. Since then, generations of young people have worked toward the Eagle rank, but reaching it requires years of dedication, leadership, service, and perseverance.

To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must advance through the Scouting ranks, demonstrate leadership within their troop, earn at least 21 merit badges, including badges in important areas such as citizenship, emergency preparedness, personal fitness, communication, and family life, and complete an extensive service project that benefits a school, church, community, or other organization.

The journey concludes with a board of review where the Scout reflects on their experiences, leadership, character, and commitment to the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

The Eagle Scout Court of Honor is a special ceremony recognizing that achievement and celebrating the many years of work that led to it.

We were proud to have Connor, Trenton, their families, fellow Scouts, and guests gather at the museum for such an important occasion.

Congratulations, Connor Johnson and Trenton Tobey! Your dedication, service, and leadership have earned you a place among generations of Eagle Scouts.

08/31/2026

DO YOU REMEMBER HOWARD COSELL?

For many people, the voice is unforgettable.

Howard Cosell was one of the most recognizable and controversial sports broadcasters in American television.

Born in 1918, Cosell did not begin his career in broadcasting. He was a lawyer first, but eventually found his way into sports radio and television, where his sharp opinions and unmistakable voice made him impossible to ignore.

Cosell became nationally famous through ABC Sports, especially as part of the broadcast team for Monday Night Football.

He was never interested in simply describing what happened.

He wanted to explain it.

Question it.

Challenge it.

And sometimes criticize it.

That approach became closely associated with one of his best known phrases:

“I’m just telling it like it is.”

Cosell also had a remarkable relationship with Muhammad Ali. At a time when Ali was one of the most controversial figures in America, Cosell continued to call him by his chosen name and treated him as a serious athlete and public figure.

Their interviews became some of the most memorable moments in sports television.

And then there was the call that became legendary.

During George Foreman’s 1973 fight against Joe Frazier, Cosell shouted:

“Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”

Even people who never watched the fight may recognize the words.

Howard Cosell was loud.

Opinionated.

Sometimes abrasive.

But he changed the way sports were covered.

He believed broadcasters should do more than tell you the score.

They should tell you what they really thought.

And that is why our new series is inspired by his famous approach.

Tell it like it is.



Image Note:
No suitable public domain photograph of Howard Costello could be located for this story. This image is an AI-generated illustration created for educational and storytelling purposes and is not a historical photograph.

08/31/2026

Sometimes Our Visitors Teach Us Something New!

One of the best things about working in a museum is discovering that there can still be surprises hiding in plain sight among the thousands of objects in our collection.

On Friday, Keri Lofftus and her father were visiting the museum when Keri noticed something unusual in Row 87. Among a cruet set containing several pale yellow glass bottles, she recognized something we had not identified on the exhibit label.

It appears to be uranium glass, specifically the pale yellow variety commonly known as Vaseline glass.

Keri happened to have a UV black light flashlight with her and gave the bottles a test. The result was hard to miss!

They glowed an intense, brilliant green.

Uranium was added to glass to create its distinctive yellow or yellow green appearance. One of its most fascinating characteristics is its fluorescence. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the uranium compounds in the glass produce that unmistakable bright green glow.

And yes, uranium glass does contain a small amount of uranium and is slightly radioactive, but pieces such as these generally contain very low levels and are commonly collected and displayed.

Take a look at the difference between the cruet set under normal lighting and under Keri’s UV light!

A very special thank you to Keri Lofftus for taking the time to share what she knew, photograph the results, and send the information to us. With a collection as large and varied as ours, discoveries like this remind us that there is always another story waiting to be uncovered.

Now we may have to find a black light for Row 87!

The next time you visit the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum, take a closer look at the objects around you. You never know what unexpected piece of history you might discover.



Photos by Keri Lofftus

08/30/2026

Before Saratoga, There Was Bennington

Before Saratoga turned the tide,
John Stark was standing on the side.

He led the militia, strong and true,
With one clear mission they had to do.

Burgoyne needed horses, food, and more,
But Stark made sure he left with less than before.

At Bennington, the Patriots stood their ground,
And British losses mounted all around.

The battle did not win the war that day,
But it helped weaken Burgoyne along the way.

Then Saratoga soon would come,
And Britain’s great campaign was done.

From Bunker Hill to Trenton’s fight,
John Stark kept serving through the night.

His name may not be the first we recall,
But his courage at Bennington mattered to all.

Read the attached article and discover why John Stark deserves a place among the Unsung Heroes of the American Revolution.

Explore the life of John Stark, the unsung hero whose victory at Bennington set the stage for America's triumph at Saratoga.

08/29/2026

AND NOW YOU KNOW… THE REST OF THE STORY

If you grew up listening to the radio, those words may immediately bring back the voice of Paul Harvey.

For younger generations, the name may not be as familiar.

Paul Harvey was one of the most recognizable voices in American radio. Born in Tulsa in 1918, he began working in radio while still a teenager and went on to build a broadcasting career that lasted for decades.

Millions of listeners knew him for his distinctive delivery, his commentary on the news, and especially for his program The Rest of the Story.

That program took a person, event, or moment in history and told the story in a way that kept one important detail hidden until the end.

Then came the reveal.

And finally, the line generations remembered:

“And now you know… the rest of the story.”

That style of storytelling is what inspired our own Rest of the Story series here at the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum.

We take a familiar quote, a famous name, or a moment in American history and look a little deeper.

Sometimes the quote is not exactly what people think.

Sometimes the person behind it has a surprising story.

Sometimes the truth is more interesting than the legend.

We have not found evidence that Paul Harvey ever specifically featured the J.M. Davis Museum, but his influence on American storytelling makes him a natural inspiration for this series.

For some of you, this post may bring back a familiar voice.

For others, it may be your introduction to one of the most famous broadcasters of the 20th century.

Either way, we hope you will keep following along.

And now you know… the rest of the story.



Image Note:
No suitable public domain photograph of Paul Harvey could be located for this story. This image is an AI-generated illustration created for educational and storytelling purposes and is not a historical photograph.

08/28/2026

THE REST OF THE STORY: THOMAS PAINE

“These are the times that try men’s souls.”

Thomas Paine wrote those words in December 1776, at one of the darkest moments of the American Revolution.

The Continental Army had suffered defeat after defeat. Morale was collapsing. Enlistments were ending. Many wondered whether the Revolution could survive.

Then Paine published the first installment of The American Crisis.

His opening words were meant to strengthen resolve and remind Americans that freedom would not come easily.

Just days later, George Washington’s army crossed the Delaware River and won a badly needed victory at Trenton.

Paine was not a soldier leading troops into battle, but his words became a weapon of their own.

They encouraged people to keep going when the future of the new nation was anything but certain.

More than 250 years later, those words still remind us that difficult times reveal courage, character, and conviction.

And now you know… the rest of the story.