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.

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Rider Tunic and button

On loan while the National Park Service renovates the Roosevelt's family home (Sagamore Hill), the collection includes souvenirs from his days with the Rough Riders, priceless pieces of Wild West inspired art, and, of course, a healthy collection of the President's firearms.

Because of the historical nature of the exhibit (not to mention the countless treasures now here at NRA Headquarters from his days in office and time off hunting along the African plains), the Theodore Roosevelt: Trappings of an Icon exhibit makes #5 on my best of 2012 list.