Boom and Slash! Weapons from the Museum’s Collection

As part of the year long centennial celebration, the Fort Smith Museum of History will present

Boom and Slash! Weapons from the Museum’s Collection opening on August 19, 2010, in the Boyd Gallery.

 The centerpiece of the exhibit will feature two special artifacts from the General Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville Collection.  An 1851 Colt Navy revolver commissioned by Bonneville and a commemorative sword presented to Thomas Bonneville, brother of Benjamin, for his service in the War of 1812’s extraordinary 1814 navel battle between the American sloop, the Wasp and the British Reindeer highlight the exhibition. Born in France in 1796, General Bonneville arrived in Fort Smith in the early 1820’s as a young lieutenant after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1815.  General Bonneville is well known nationally for his exploration of the west and the founding of such well-known sites as the Bonneville Salt Flats and Bonneville Dam, as well as the subject of the book by Washington Irving, The Adventures of Captain Bonneville published in 1837. Bonneville spent much of his life in Fort Smith.  In 1865, he was promoted to Brevet Brigadier General and lived the rest of his long life in Fort Smith until his death in 1878. 

Also view rifles, pistols and swords from the museum’s collection as well as a selection of pocket knives from the Boyd Collection.  The eclectic weapons may be viewed during regular museum hours.  An opening reception will be held on August 19 at 5:00 P. M. with an interpretive program by Mike Bradley of Fort Gibson, OK to be presented at 6:00 p. m.