America’s Most Remarkable Firearm Collections, From Presidents to Outlaws

Firearms collecting has long been part of American history, with some collections stretching far beyond everyday ownership. Across the country, museums, private estates, and historic institutions hold remarkable groups of weapons that reflect everything from military history and frontier life to presidential ownership and rare craftsmanship. Some are known for their size, while others stand out because of who once owned them or the stories attached to them.

In this slideshow, we look at some of the most notable gun collections in the United States, from displays tied to famous political figures to caches linked with outlaws, inventors, and turning points in American history. These collections offer a closer look at how firearms have been preserved not just as tools, but as artifacts of the country’s cultural and political past.

• Location: Claremore, Oklahoma
• Number of Firearms: Over 12,000
• The J.M. Davis Collection is owned by John Monroe Davis, who began collecting as a boy and built what may be the world’s largest private gun collection.
• The collection includes guns of all types, plus non-firearm artifacts like beer steins and Old West saddles.

• Location: Springfield, Massachusetts
• Number of Firearms: 11,000
• Founded in 1777, the Springfield Armory Museum features muskets, rifles, prototypes, and rare weapons from both Allied and Axis forces.
• It’s one of the biggest gun collections ever assembled.

• Location: Cody, Wyoming
• Number of Firearms: 7,000
• The Cody Firearms Museum includes historical weapons, firearms tied to Eli Whitney, Jr., and pieces connected to past presidents.
• The collection also features air guns, miniature firearms, and items linked to Buffalo Bill.

• Location: Washington, DC
• Number of Firearms: About 7,000
• This Smithsonian collection includes some of the oldest firearms in the country, along with small arms, ammunition, and engraved weapons once owned by famous figures.
• Only about 150 are on display at a time.

• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Number of Firearms: 3,500
• Though not dedicated exclusively to firearms, the museum displays thousands of guns from around the world, including muskets, Henry and Colt rifles, and weapons used by Great Basin prospectors.
• It also includes educational materials covering gun development from 1650 to 1940.

• Location: Rock Island, Illinois
• Number of Firearms: 1,790
• Located on an active Army base, this museum displays firearms in glass cabinets with files for each gun.
• Many of the guns were used by Cheyenne and Sioux warriors, and the museum also features the Flapper Rifle prototype.

• Location: Lion, NY
• Number of Firearms: 2,000
• Hosted by the Remington Arms Company, this museum includes revolvers, shotguns, pocket pistols, percussion guns, and rolling-block rifles.
• It also houses the one millionth and 10 millionth guns ever manufactured.

• Location: Houston, Texas
• Number of Firearms: Around 10,000
• This gun store and collection includes firearms dating back to 1500, along with cowboy action revolvers, classic European semi-automatics, and cartridge handguns.
• Visitors can browse and talk with the owners about firearms.

• Location: Ogden, Utah
• Number of Firearms: 423
• Part of the Union Station Museum, this collection includes prototypes of John Browning’s designs, rifles, shotguns, pistols, and gas-operated guns.
• It also features rare firearms like the Winchester 30/30 and lever-action rifles.

• Location: Bartlesville, Oklahoma
• Number of Firearms: 650+
• This collection was helped into being by Phil Phillips and includes many Colt revolvers, including Colt Pattersons from the 1830s.
• It also features a sizable collection of Winchesters and other notable firearms.

• Location: Lexington, Virginia
• Number of Firearms: 800
• Held at the Virginia Military Institute, this collection includes historically significant firearms such as the Walther PPK ordered by Hitler and the first experimental AR-15.
• It also contains rare pieces like the Artemis Wheeler revolver and the Browning Harmonica rifle.

• Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Number of Firearms: 104
• This curated selection highlights the evolution of firearms with Colt-Paterson revolvers, Smith & Wesson pieces, Parkers, and more.
• Many of the 1800s firearms are displayed in dioramas with trappers, soldiers, cowboys, and hunters.

• Location: Titusville, Florida
• Number of Firearms: 1,000
• Started by C. Reed Knight Jr., this institute displays production and experimental rifles, crew machine guns, field cannons, and more.
• It also includes restored tanks, artillery, military vehicles, and other weapons and tools under restoration.

• Location: Los Angeles, California
• Number of Firearms: 100+
• This gallery focuses mostly on Colt revolvers and highlights their impact on the American frontier and the contemporary West.
• Notable pieces include Theodore Roosevelt’s Colt revolver, Doc Holliday’s O.K. Corral gun, and Billy the Kid’s rifle.

• Location: Fairfax, Virginia
• Number of Firearms: Over 3,000
• This museum features contemporary guns as well as historical artifacts owned by Dwight Eisenhower, Annie Oakley, and others.
• It also includes what many believe is the oldest gun in history: a cannon built in 1350.