Cannons, missiles, tanks and more

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum was established in 1905, making it the second oldest U.S. Army museum after West Point. The museum has been closed down twice, during W.W. I and W.W. II, in order to create more space for manufacturing. It has been in its present location since 1948.

In 1959, the museum's name was changed to the John M. Browning Memorial Museum. In 1986, the museum's name was changed back to the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. This was done in order to better represent the museum's primary purpose, which is to collect, preserve, and display the history of Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island.

Rock Island Arsenal is an active U.S. Army factory, which manufactures ordnance and equipment for the Armed Forces. It is located on Arsenal Island in the Mississippi River.

The Arsenal Museum interprets the history of Arsenal Island to include the building of Fort Armstrong in 1816, the Black Hawk War, the Confederate Prison Camp 1863-1865, and the establishment of the Arsenal in 1862. The theme of the Museum is People, Processes, and Products. The exhibits depict the people involved in the Island's history, the manufacturing processes used at the Arsenal, and the equipment that the Arsenal has produced.

Also, included at the museum is an extensive collection of military firearms, both foreign and domestic. Over 1100 weapons are currently on display.