The Pioneer Museum is extremely privileged to be hosting
a special private collection this fall. Ron Eaton, a
retired Army Special Forces man from Golden, is curating
this exhibit, which includes many of his own pieces as
well as items belonging to fellow collectors.
The highlight of the display is a series
of mannequins, appropriately uniformed, armed, and
equipped for the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Indian
Wars, Spanish-American War, World War I and World War
II.
One
of our Civil War figures is dressed for the Cavalry,
with a cavalry shell jacket, hat, belt, sword and sword
hangers, a cross-shoulder carbine sling, cavalry
boots-even a McClellan saddle. Another Civil War figure
wears a Massachusetts infantryman's coat, hat, and
equipment. Even his rifle is one that was
specially-manufactured for that Massachusetts unit.
One World War I figure was a private in
an African-American unit sent over early in the war to
fight with the French. The uniform is American, but the
helmet and equipment are French. (Interesting, n'est
pas?)
Our World War II Aviator sports a
leather flying jacket, "Mae West," leather helmet and
aviator's goggles. The World War II Infantryman is
properly equipped and attired from head to toe, down to
his M1 rifle. This collection is entirely pre-June of
1944, so it's what a GI would have worn for the D-Day
Invasion.
The display also includes several
display cases' worth of additional artifacts, including
military photos, decorations, a Revolutionary War
tricorn hat, binoculars, cannonballs…you really need to
see the collection to appreciate it.
Don't miss this chance to see a
world-class military collection right here in Golden!
