A Bit Of 'Unusual' American History

Empty .38 caliber cartridge (click to enlarge)

I watched the bullet that was fired from this cartridge kill a man.  Right before my eyes, no less!

This is the cartridge from which a man by the name of Jack Ruby fired the bullet into the abdomen of Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy, killing him.  This occurred in the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters.  I watched it live on our small black and white television on November 24, 1963, two days after President Kennedy was murdered.

So, where did I see this?  There is a small museum in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania called The Gettysburg Museum of History.  It is free museum housed in an old house.  The museum that includes a lot of eclectic artifacts from American history, World War II history and just a lot of interesting things you wouldn't see anywhere else.  It is probably the most unusual museum I've ever visited.

(click to enlarge)

For example, as well as have the cartridge casing from Jack Ruby's revolver, they have a pair of President Kennedy's boxer shorts, a sterling silver tea service belonging to, used by and engraved for Adolf Hitler, General George Patton's razor, President Truman's hat, a bra and lock of hair from Marilyn Monroe and President Gerald Ford's glasses just to name a few oddities.  There are literally thousands of items on exhibit, most not strange items as I have mentioned.  Most are interesting artifacts.

Of course, being in Gettysburg, the site of one of the most famous and important battles of the American Civil War, there are a plethora of Civil War artifacts.  In fact, they will sell you much of what they have on display.

I first saw this little museum while watching one of those reality television shows many years ago, was fascinated by the collection and how all of the artifacts came to be there.  So, when I visited Gettysburg a couple of weeks ago, I paid a visit.  Not only did it meet my expectations, it was free!

Also, I asked.  They do allow you to photograph anything on exhibit.  I used my iPhone for this image.

Sometimes the small, innocuous, little publicized places you happen upon during your journeys turn out to be very worthwhile to visit.  

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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