J. M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum facts for kids
The J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum is a special place in Claremore, Oklahoma. It holds a huge collection of over 20,000 firearms and related items. You can find guns from all over the world here. This includes old Kentucky rifles and a powerful Gatling gun. There are also black-powder guns, cannons, and rare guns from famous companies like Colt and Winchester. You can even see guns used for hunting elephants or by outlaws!
But it's not just guns! The museum also has 1,200 German beer steins. You can see statues made by John Rogers and old music boxes from the late 1800s. There are also swords, knives, and items made by Native American people. Plus, you'll find old household items, a big collection of boot jacks, and local cattle brands. Hundreds of animal horns and trophy heads are on display too. And don't miss the World War I posters!
History of the Museum
The museum tells the amazing story of J.M. Davis. He worked hard to save these pieces of history. He wanted everyone to enjoy what he called the "World's Largest Privately Owned Gun Collection." J.M. Davis got his very first gun when he was just seven years old. This started his lifelong interest in all kinds of guns. He kept collecting for 78 years until he passed away in 1973.
In 1917, Mr. Davis moved to Claremore, Oklahoma. He bought the Mason Hotel there. By 1929, he had collected over 99 different types of guns. He started to show his collection by hanging it on the walls of his hotel. His collection grew to include everything from a 500-year-old Chinese hand cannon to the smallest gun ever made.
In 1965, J.M. Davis gave his huge gun collection to a special group. This group was called the J.M. Davis Foundation, Inc. The foundation then made a deal with the state of Oklahoma. The state agreed to take care of the entire collection. They promised to keep it safe and display it for everyone to see. The best part? There would be no charge to get in! Four years later, a new, modern museum opened. It was 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2) big. The museum opened on Davis's 82nd birthday, and people were very excited to visit.
