Varnum Continentals

09/03/2026

Many thanks to East Greenwich News for their coverage of "The Living Line," our first (but not last) living history event and historic military encampment.

Above: Gloucester Light Infantry members TJ Moretti, Michael Giangiulio, Jim Mulvey, Glenn Siner, and Luke Wright at the Varnum House Museum Aug. 29-30, 2026, encampment. The grounds of the Varnum House Museum were transformed into a Revolutionary War encampment by several Rhode Island historic mili...

08/31/2026

CHECK IT OUT! The Varnum House Museum's "The Living Line" Revolutionary War Historic Encampment made it on to NBC 10 WJAR news!

Musket fire, colonial cooking and Revolutionary War-era demonstrations filled the grounds of the Varnum House this weekend.

08/16/2026

There's some high-stakes, hardcore textile conservation going on at the Varnum Armory Museum. The conservation team continues to stabilize and put back together this hand-painted silk Newport Elks Lodge banner from the late 1800s.

08/15/2026

With regret, it's time to take down the Varnum Armory Museum exhibit of Bugler William Lewis' American Civil War musician's shell jacket and return it to Pamplin Historical Park in Virginia. We're grateful for the longer term loan!

It has been a privilege to display and share Lewis' inspiring story. That said, we still have his albumen photograph, so William's sacrifice will continue to be shared with our visitors.

08/15/2026

This new American Civil War exhibit will be on display for the FREE OPEN HOUSE! Tour the Varnum Armory Museum on Sunday, August 16!

These relics date to March 14, 1862 and the Battle of New Bern in North Carolina. This battle was a major early Union victory during Brig. Gen. Ambrose Burnside's North Carolina Expedition. Roughly 12,000 Union troops attacked about 4,000 Confederates defending fortified positions south of New Bern. After several hours of fighting, Union forces broke the Confederate line, captured the defenses, and occupied New Bern, which remained in Union hands for the rest of the Civil War. Total Union casualties were about 471: 90 killed, 380 wounded, and 1 missing.

Rhode Island’s 4th and 5th Rhode Island Infantry participated, with the 4th Rhode Island playing a particularly important role in breaking the Confederate position with a bayonet charge. Contemporary/regimental accounts give somewhat differing figures, but a commonly cited accounting for the 4th Rhode Island is 10 killed and 25 wounded, with 5 of the wounded later dying.

Many thanks Paul Oliveira, the generous donor of these amazing pieces!

08/02/2026

On Mon., July 27, the Varnum House Museum hosted a very special celebration of General Nathanael Greene's 284th birthday. Hosted with the folks over at Forge Farm, this event celebrated the life and accomplishments a true American and Rhode Island hero of the American Revolution!

Guests included very many of General Greene's own descendants as well as Sec. of State Gregg Amore (who cut the cake with Greene's own sword!) as well as Varnum's Historic Regiment and the Kentish Guards. Many thanks to all who attended! It was a wonderful event!

We took a lot of photos! This is batch 1 of 4!