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MEMBER EXCLUSIVE: Tour of the Varnum Armory

  • February 20, 2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  • Varnum Armory

    6 Main Street
    East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818
Ticket Price $16.88 Register Now
Description

Join the Rhode Island Historical Society on Friday, February 20th at 11am for a member-exclusive tour of the Varnum Armory led by President and Executive Director Patrick Donovan.

The Armory houses the largest and most carefully preserved collection of Rhode Island military history, spanning from the Colonial era through the present day. Nearly every artifact you will see is directly connected to Rhode Island—tied to a specific unit, individual, or moment in the state’s past—allowing us to tell richer, more personal, and more compelling stories. Donovan will lead an engaging private tour of the collection, sharing powerful and often emotional accounts of sacrifice, selflessness, and heroism. These stories bring historic objects to life while also underscoring the profound human cost, devastation, and reality of war.

In addition to the museum galleries, visitors will also learn about our textile conservation lab, where historic flags, uniforms, and other fragile artifacts are professionally conserved and restored, ensuring Rhode Island’s military heritage is preserved for future generations.

Date & Time

Fri, Feb 20, 2026 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Venue Details

Varnum Armory

6 Main Street
East Greenwich, Rhode Island 02818 Varnum Armory
Rhode Island Historical Society

The Rhode Island Historical Society, the state's oldest and only statewide historical organization, is dedicated to honoring, interpreting and sharing Rhode Island's past to enrich the present and inspire the future. Founded in 1822, the RIHS is an advocate for history as a means to develop empathy and 21st  -century skills, using its historical materials and knowledge to explore topics of timeless relevance and public interest. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, it is dedicated to providing high-quality, accessible public programming and educational opportunities for all Rhode Islanders through its four sites: the John Brown House Museum, the Museum of Work & Culture, the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center and the Aldrich House.


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