Beyond the Bluegrass- A Tribute to William Henry Harrison and Makers of the American Longrifle | September 1- November 30, 2023
The former U.S. President’s home will host an exhibit of twenty-one carefully selected muzzle-loading longrifles. Visitors will see how the cultural and artistic refinements of the American Longrifle came westward with Harrison and his time.
The tribute to Harrison comes in the form of an American Longrifle exhibit that will take place in the receiving parlor of his Philadelphia-influenced brick mansion built 1801-1804 on the east bank of the Wabash River in Vincennes, Indiana. Grouseland (named for the abundance of grouse found on the 300- acre estate) will host the exhibit of artistic and historic rifles that were made by Indiana gunmakers between 1800-1880 in the same room where Harrison received Native American Chiefs and negotiated land treaties. More than twenty rifles (including Indiana’s State Rifle by John Small) will be displayed enabling guests to view the firearms with a 360° viewpoint. The rifles chosen for display have historic or artistic merit. Some have engraved patch boxes and inlays while others have relief or incised carving. A few of the rifles are unadorned full-stocks but exhibit regional architecture or have historical significance. Samples of three patchboxes adorning rifles in the exhibit are pictured below.
Beyond the Bluegrass commemorates the sacrifices and contributions William Henry Harrison made for this country and the longrifles’ role during the times. One such contribution includes his negotiated treaties that ceded the lands of Illinois and Southern Indiana to the United States. When diplomacy by the pen failed, he risked his life at the Battles of Fallen Timbers, Tippecanoe, Fort Meigs, and the Thames River and was consistently victorious. His army’s primary tools were muzzle-loading firearms.
Following his efforts, westward American pioneers enjoyed affordable land in the Midwest in a less hostile environment. Farmers, tradesmen, and artists prospered. Gunmakers came from the East and the South into Indiana. Their product evolved and their story will be told at Grouseland, the former home of a U.S. President. Thousands of visitors annually tour the mansion and enjoy many artifacts once owned by Harrison and his family, or that are of the era.
Beyond the Bluegrass will open to ticket holders after the Grouseland Foundation’s annual meeting/dinner which will take place at Grouseland at 3 West Scott Street, Vincennes, Indiana. The date is Friday, September 1, 2023. Grouseland’s recent $1.5 million dollar restoration project will also be officially celebrated. The exhibit will end on November 30. Contact Grouseland at 812-882-2096 or visit their website grouseland@live.com for ticket pricing and details.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Kentucky Rifle Foundation; National Muzzle-Loading Rifle Association; and Indiana Antique Arms Collectors Association.
Promotional content provided by Jeff. J. Jaeger.