NRA Museum Curator's display Guns of Teddy Roosevelt at the Martinsburg Gun Show

Martinsburg, West Virginia - Four hours ago, the Martinsburg Gun Show opened their doors for business. With more than two hundred tables of guns, ammo, antiques and Gatling Guns, the show is sure to thrill the thousands of firearm enthusiast expected to attend this weekend. One table sure to garner a great deal of excitement is the one manned by Philip Schreier, Senior Curator of the NRA National Firearms Museum.

"We brought something special for the good people of West Virginia," said Schreier. "The guns of a President."

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Shotguns and pistols from Eisenhower, Cleveland and Roosevelt

Fairfax, Virginia - It wasn't always Presidents Day.

In fact, up until the 1980s, only two of the four presidential birthdays that fell in February were celebrated with any great regularity (more on that below). Unfortunately, we don't have any of their firearms on display at the National Firearms Museum ... but we do have a few others.

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President Roosevelt's collection of guns, gear & safari treasures

Theodore Roosevelt's suppressed 1894 Winchester lever action rifle

Fairfax, Virginia - In the Spring of 2012, crates from the National Parks Service arrived at NRA Headquarters. Earmarked for the National Firearms Museum, their delivery had the curators as giddy as school girls. And with good reason.

For inside those crates was more than just your every day collection of guns. No, those crates held something special ... the personal belongings of President Theodore Roosevelt.

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The Springfield 1903 Theodore Roosevelt used during his 1909 African Safari

Fairfax, Virginia - Why is National Firearms Museum Director Jim Supica smiling so? Because the rifle in his hands, a 1903 Springfield bolt-action rifle, is yet another addition to the NRA Museum's President Theodore Roosevelt exhibit.

"That is Theodore Roosevelt's Springfield 1903 rifle, serial number 6000," Supica beamed. "It's one of the most historic Roosevelt rifles. It was one of his primary arms in the 1909 African Safari."

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NRA Museum highlights rifles shot by Theodore Roosevelt's kids

Fairfax, Virginia - Thursday night means we're back in the saddle for another edition of Curator's Corner. Sticking with our President Theodore Roosevelt theme, Senior Curator Phil Schreier brings John Popp to the "Lion's Pride" portion of the new exhibit.

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Fairfax, Virginia - With the recent opening of their new exhibit “Theodore Roosevelt, Trappings on an Icon”, Senior Curator Phil Schreier brings NRANews into the National Firearms Museum for a close up look at one of the treasures: Roosevelt's tunic, hat and sword that he wore and used during the charge up San Juan Hill.

Thanks again to the National Park Service for allowing us to house these treasures while they complete their renovation of Sagamore Hill.

In this clip, Phil provides background on where the items were stored, where he was looking and how Brooks Brothers played a part in it all.

President Theodore Roosevelt Collection opening at NRA Museum

NRA Senior Curator Phil Schreier stands beside NRANews Executive Producer John Popp at National Firearms Museum's opening of Theodore Roosevelt collection.

Fairfax, Virginia - Late last year, the National Firearms Museum received a shipment from Sagamore Hill — the ancestral home of President Theodore Roosevelt. While Sagamore Hill undergoes renovation, the staff over at the National Parks Service was kind enough to lend a portion of the estate's collection to the NRA Museum. That collection now is on display under the exhibit named Trappings of an Icon.

More on the new Theodore Roosevelt collection at the NRA Museum ...

With a production run spanning more than fifty years, the Springfield 1903 saw action in everything from the Mexican Revolution to the Vietnam War. Measuring out at just under 44 inches, the Springfield weights approximately 9 pounds and came standard with a five round clip. No, not a magazine, a clip.

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Schreier and Popp with Roosevelt's The Creek Indian 1903 by Frederic Remington

Fairfax, Virginia - When the National Park Service asked the folks here at the National Firearms Museum if they'd like to hold on to part of President Theodore Roosevelt's personal belongings during the Sagamore Hill renovation, they weren't just asking about the guns. For Roosevelt was known for more then just his hunting ... there was also the intellectual side of the man. One who appreciated the contemporary artist of the day.

"Frederick Remington is easily the most well known artist in Theodore's collection," said Senior Curator Phil Schreier. "But there was more. So much more."

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