Inside History

We've been airing our Inside History feature for about a year and a half now. Our visit to th...  More »

We've been airing our Inside History feature for about a year and a half now. Our visit to the gun vault at the Heritage Center has drawn the most interest so far. So we decided it's time for a return trip. Here's Tom Gerhardt with more. The last time I visited the gun vault, I got a look at some interesting historyincluding a gun that dates all the way back to the 1780s. In this months edition of Inside History, the focus falls on the Civil War era of the 1860's. The gun vault at the Heritage Center is really a vaultprotected by a secret combination. Mark Halvorson is the man who opens history to you. Take a look at this model 1855 springfield pistol issued to both the Army and Navywith a unique primer. 9:39 We all had a cap gun when we were kids playing cops and robbers...maynard tape primer basically all the primer pieces came in here but it was unsuccessful. 9:50 The pistol came with an 1855 Springfield rifle with the same primer. 11:18 This was one of the weapons carried by the Minnesota volunteers during the Dakota conflict of 1862. It has its adjustable sites...but it was an experimental rifle for the army...a complete failurebut it still used that same system just like the cap guns when we were kids playing cops and robbers. 11:44 Take a look at this rifleinnovative for its timethe Colt 1855 56 caliber revolving rifle was carried by a group of Minnesota volunteers known as company d on the Sibley expedition of 1863 14:39 It is a repeating revolver much like a pistol of the same time period. It had nipples for the percussion caps and was loaded....it gave a soldier more firepower as opposed the the standard muzzle loading rifle....15:00 The story of this very rifle is saved forever in North Dakota history.... 16:41 Under captain banks advice, each man in his company purchased at his expense of 42 dollars a six shooting colts revolving rifle and by permission of the government they armed themselves with these rifles and armed themselves against the indians....16:57 And finallya pair of Remington army model 44 caliber pistols.... 18:19 This particular revolver was carried by John French during the Civil Waroriginally lived in Maine, his family migrated to a little town called Bismarck out here in Dakota. 18:30 It's companion in same drawerhas a different story...and is connected to the Battle of the Little Big Horn. 18:51 whats fascinating about this weapon it was acquired by somebody near Crow Agency...apparently there was a little engagement with some men under the command of Reno with some Sioux and Cheyenne in June 1876this was acquired by the Burdick family. These guns are in a vaultbut are open to the publicby appointment only. Taking you Inside History, I'm Tom Gerhardt.  « Less