Varnum Continentals

09/26/2026

The Varnum Armory Museum is excited to announce our "Rhode Island in the Revolutionary War" panel signage has been installed.

Paid for by generous donations from the Kimball Foundation and BankNewport, the new exhibit tells the story of Rhode Island’s remarkable role in the American Revolution, from its early resistance to British rule and the occupation of Newport to the fighting on land and sea, including the Battle of Rhode Island and the service of the First Rhode Island Regiment.

It also explores the experiences of ordinary Rhode Islanders, the enormous human and economic costs of the war, and the complicated legacy of a Revolution that promised liberty while not extending it equally to all. Together, the panels show how a small colony played an outsized role in the struggle for American independence.

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!