Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Fairfax National Firearms Museum

National Firearms Museum

Collecting 700 years of mechanical death-dealing, the NRA's sprawling gun museum is a revealing testament to the American obsession with armament.

Fairfax, Virginia

Added By
Eric Grundhauser
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
National Firearms Museum   Joe Loong on Flickr
National Firearms Museum   Greg Younger on Flickr
National Firearms Museum   Joe Loong on Flickr
Dirty Harry’s Magnum   Joe Loong on Flickr
Mal Reynolds’ space revolver from Serenity   Joe Loong on Flickr
NRA HQ   James Henry
Gift Shop NRA Bears   James Henry
Heath Ledger’s (aka The Joker) Remington Short Barrel Shotgun   James Henry
imperial stormtrooper blasters   James Henry
Tony Montana’s “Little Friend” from the movie “Scarface” is one of many famous Hollywood firearms on display.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, the National Firearms Museum displays a staggering collection of guns collected from over 700 years of firearm history.

Owned and operated by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the museum seeks to show visitors the breadth of innovation and importance of firearms down the centuries. The collection is made up of 15 galleries split up by era, featuring names that represent the attitude and utility of the weapons on display. There is the "Ever Vigilant" gallery that collects weapons used in World War II all the way up to present armaments; the "An Age of Elegance" gallery that displays weapons that belonged to Theodore Roosevelt and soldiers of the Spanish-American War; and the "Ancient Firearms" gallery that holds weapons dating back as far as 1350. 

In addition to the historically themed exhibit halls, the museum is also home to more broadly themed gun shows. From the "For the Fun of It" gallery that collects non-lethal weapons like cap guns and air rifles, to the "Hollywood Guns" collection featuring weapons like Dirty Harry's .44 Magnum, The Joker's Remington short barrel shotgun, Mal Reynolds' space revolver, and a wide variety of Star Wars prop weapons, the museum isn't afraid to show that guns have a fun side.  

The crown jewel of the entire facility is the Robert E. Petersen Collection, which, according to the museum's website, has been called "the finest single room of guns anywhere in the world." This eclectic collection features all manner of firearms, including pistols, shotguns, and rifles, as well as the largest collection of Gatling guns on public display.

All of this is a fraction of the items on display. Other unique pieces in the museum include Annie Oakley's guns and a service revolver covered in soot from 9/11. Whatever your feelings on guns, the National Firearms Museum is undeniably a fascinating and impressive collection of items that, like it or not, are an inextricable part of America's past, present, and possible future. And it's all completely free of charge.

If this huge display makes you want to actually shoot some guns you can take advantage of the 15-booth firing range in the basement of the building. There is a small training fee and you'll need to bring your own pistol, rifle or shotgun, though, since they do not rent guns to the public.

Related Tags

Weapons Museums And Collections Museums

Know Before You Go

Take exits 57A or 57B off I-66 and turn left onto Waples Mill Road. The building is on the right, and parking is free of charge.

Community Contributors

Added By

EricGrundhauser

Edited By

bachrach44, rugby007, blimpcaptain

  • bachrach44
  • rugby007
  • blimpcaptain

Published

April 8, 2015

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Museum
National Firearms Museum
11250 Waples Mill Road
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030
United States
38.863099, -77.335562
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Legato School Museum

Fairfax, Virginia

miles away

Fairfax Nike Missile Site

Fairfax, Virginia

miles away

Thompson Family Cemetery

Fairfax, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fairfax

Fairfax

Virginia

Places 4

Nearby Places

Legato School Museum

Fairfax, Virginia

miles away

Fairfax Nike Missile Site

Fairfax, Virginia

miles away

Thompson Family Cemetery

Fairfax, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Fairfax

Fairfax

Virginia

Places 4

Related Places

  • The Lao National History Museum is located in the former French governor’s mansion, built in 1925.

    Vientiane, Laos

    Lao National Museum

    American bombs, morbid memorabilia, and graphic photographs tell the story of the CIA-led “Secret War” from the Pathet Lao perspective.

  • Reconstruction of a catapult.

    Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

    Mongolian Military Museum

    Thousands of artifacts tell Mongolia's military history, from the Bronze Age to the present.

  • The dagger.

    Florence, Italy

    Dante's Dagger

    A medieval weapon rumored to have been used by the brilliant poet himself.

  • OMAR Mine Museum.

    Kabul, Afghanistan

    OMAR Mine Museum

    A sobering museum dedicated to landmines and the personnel working to remove them from Afghanistan.

  • Unfired ammunition found in the area.

    Valencia, Philippines

    Cata-al World War II Museum

    A vast personal collection of World War II artifacts unearthed over many years by a father-son duo.

  • “Yo Soy el Buen Pastor Ego Sum Pastor Bonus” by Bernardo Ramonfaur.

    Monterrey, Mexico

    Museo Arquidiocesano de Arte Sacro (Archdiocese Sacred Art Museum)

    Its collection features not only Christian-themed art but also works made by members of the clergy.

  • Can’t forget the firetruck.

    Harrisville, West Virginia

    Cliff’s Museum of Car Memorabilia

    A lifetime collection of thousands of automobile and vintage gas station items at no charge to view.

  • Livingstone, Zambia

    David Livingstone’s Shaving Mirror

    Combing through this David Livingstone tribute will escort you on adventures through the looking glass.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.