Artillery Company of Newport

The museum is considered to have one of the most outstanding collections of foreign and domestic militaria to be seen in the United States. Started in 1960, it has grown from a minute collection that today represents over one hundred countries throughout the known world. The command, Rhode Island Militia, chartered in 1741, is the nation's oldest military organization in continuous service under its charter. The Artillery Company of Newport, chartered in 1741 by King George II of Great Britain, is today a ceremonial unit of the Rhode Island Militia, Council of Historic Military Commands. As such, the Company provides cannon salutes, color guards, and honor guards for official state and local ceremonies, as well as for privately sponsored patriotic and veterans' events.