Frazier International History Museum

Front facade of the Frazier Museum

The Frazier International History Museum, formerly the Frazier Historical Arms Museum, is a museum in Louisville, Kentucky's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is named for the museum's founder Owsley Brown Frazier.^{[citation needed]} The museum is an affiliate in the Smithsonian Affiliations program.

The facilities include 75,000 square feet (7,000 m²) of exhibition space over three floors, as well as two areas for interpretations, a 120-seat auditorium, a 48-seat movie theater, and various displays (including multimedia, interactive and audio-visual). The Frazier Museum Store is on the first floor in the front of the museum, and contains a small vending/eating area.^{[citation needed]}

A number of costumed interpreters are employed, and a tournament ring features live demonstrations on the use of arms and armor. There are educational, cultural and entertainment activities at the museum throughout the day and evening. There are also traveling exhibitions on display that are on loan from various sources. In addition, the museum has a fifth-floor rooftop garden that can be rented for activities.^{[citation needed]}

Collections

Lobby of the Museum

The museum focuses on U.S. and UK arms, armor and other historical objects from the last 1,000 years. Among the exhibits are firearms, shields, swords, suits of armor and medieval weapons. It is the only museum in the world to have a satellite museum of the Royal Armouries (Britain's oldest museum). Items in the collection include a rifle reputedly once owned by George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt's "Big Stick" hunting rifle, and items once owned by "Buffalo Bill" Cody and the outlaw Jesse James. The museum also features traveling exhibits.^{[citation needed]}

The Frazier is also home to The Royal Armouries USA—a component of Britain's Royal Armouries. The Frazier is the only national museum outside of Great Britain to house a collection representing British artifacts from the 11th to the 20th centuries. The Royal Armouries galleries span the entire third floor of The Frazier and provide an in-depth look at British and European history, as well as capturing the art of early arms making.^{[citation needed]}

In 2010 the Civil War's oldest remaining monument, the 32nd Indiana Monument, was placed in the lobby for free viewing.

See also

Inside the Museum

• List of attractions and events in Louisville, Kentucky

External links

• Frazier International History Museum website
• A visitor's experience: The Frazier Historical Arms Museum (myArmoury.com article)
• Special Dragon Exhibit June 2 - Sept 4 Summer exhibit