FAQ | Rock Island Arsenal Historical Society

I am a Foreign National and would like to visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, can I?

No. The Rock Island Arsenal is an active military installation. Foreign Nationals will be denied access unless on official business.

Is there an admission charge to visit the Rock Island Arsenal Museum?

No. The museum does not charge for admission.

Can I take pictures and video inside the museum?

Photography and filming are generally allowed in all areas of the Museum except where otherwise noted. Tripods, selfie sticks, and standalone lighting are not allowed inside the Museum. Drones are not allowed at the Museum or on Arsenal Island. All commercial photography/filming must be approved in advance.

Are animals allowed inside the museum?

Pets are not allowed inside the museum, but service animals are welcomed.

Is there accessible parking available?

Yes. Free and accessible parking is available to the North of the Museum’s main entrance.

Are all spaces of the Museum accessible to those who need mobility assistance?

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum is accessible to people with mobility limitations, such as wheelchair/powered cart users and other visitors who need to avoid stairs.

Does the Rock Island Arsenal Museum accept artifact donations?

On a limited basis. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum collects and interprets artifacts related to the operations of the Rock Island Arsenal.
However, with such a focused scope of collections, the museum has a robust collection of items made at the Arsenal. Learn more here.

I have relatives who worked at Rock Island Arsenal. Does the museum have any civilian employment records?

No. Records do exist to document the employment history of individual civilian employees. The National Personnel Records Center’s (NPRC) Federal Records Center Program maintains the Official Personnel Folders (OPF) of former Federal civilian employees from 1850 to the present.
Visit their website for more information.

I have an ancestor who was imprisoned at the Rock Island Barracks during the Civil War. Does the museum have any records for those prisoners?

Maybe. The original surviving records of the Rock Island Barracks are located at the National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. The museum has copies of these records in digital format. Learn more here.

I have a serial-numbered firearm. Can the museum tell me specific information for this serial number?

No. The museum does not have records for specific information on serial-numbered firearms or edged weapons.

Can you tell me how much something is worth?

No. The Rock Island Arsenal Museum staff cannot provide appraisals of monetary value for objects. The reason is two-fold. The Internal Revenue Service considers museums to be “interested parties”, and disqualified from offering valuation of objects. The second reason is it is stated in Army Regulation 870-20 11 January 1999, 2-5 section p “Appraisals of historical artifacts and works of art accepted into the Army Historical Collection will not be made by museum personnel. Appraisals for tax purposes are the responsibility of the donor in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines.”

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