The Wright Museum of World War II is a special place for American history education. The focus is the war years 1939-45, both on the homefront and battle front.
The Wright Museum considers all the items in its Permanent Collection to be sacred objects, held in trust for future generations of Americans. Consequently, no historical artifact is ever harmed. The only people who handle collection items are Museum staff and approved specialists.
The Museum is currently evaluating its policy concerning re-enactors, as it is not part of our volunteer program.
No personal firearms and/or weapons are permitted on the Museum grounds. Please consider this when you plan your visit.
The Wright Museum Board voted to adopt the following policies because of insurance, risk management and other implications:
Wright Museum of WWII Weapons* Policy for Visitors
Effective Date July 24, 2019
*In this policy weapons include, but are not limited to, guns, knives or swords with blades over four inches in length, explosives, and any other chemical whose purpose is to cause harm to another person.
No license is required to carry a concealed or open carry weapon in New Hampshire. However, a private business such as the Wright Museum of WWII has the right to ban firearms from their property, and can ask customers who are carrying firearms or weapons, openly or concealed, to leave.
A business owner must post, in a conspicuous place, a statement prohibiting firearms and other dangerous or deadly weapons either open or concealed. They can then ask you to leave the property, and a refusal of that can result in a trespassing charge.
The safety of the Wright Museum’s visitors, volunteers and staff is of the highest importance. Accordingly, the Wright Museum wants to avoid the unnecessary risk of intentional or accidental shootings or injuries from other weapons.
Consequently, the Wright Museum has adopted a ban on all weapons brought into the Museum. This does not infringe on the rights of the concealed weapon or open carry individual, but honors the comfort level of the greater community. People have a wide range of familiarity and experience with weapons and knowing that a gun or other weapon is carried by an individual unknown to them may exceed their comfort level. All visitors to the Wright Museum have the right to expect a secure, welcoming environment.
The following text (agreed upon by committee) will be discretely placed on the main entrance door: No Weapons Allowed on Premises
Exceptions to the Wright Museum ban on all weapons:
Weapons and firearms are permitted inside the Museum when carried by a current member of law enforcement with appropriate credentials. Law enforcement members should notify Museum staff of their status upon arrival and present their credentials for inspection and approval.
The Wright Museum of WWII Weapons* Policy Regarding Staff and Volunteers
Effective date July 24, 2019
The Wright Museum has adopted a ban on all weapons brought into the Museum or brought by staff or volunteers offsite while on duty, where the Wright is a sponsor, exhibitor or participant. This does not infringe on the rights of the concealed weapon or open carry individual, but honors the comfort level of the greater community when attending Wright events.
*Weapons include, but are not limited to, guns, knives or swords with blades over four inches in length, explosives, and any chemical whose purpose is to cause harm to another person.
Storage and Display of Firearms/Weapons from the Wright Museum Permanent Collection: It is very important to decommission and safely secure guns/weapons that are part of the Wright Museum Permanent Collection; whether on display or in storage. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt by a museum-owned weapon.
> All Wright Collection firearms must be decommissioned (firing pins removed) before being placed in storage or on display in the museum.
> When storing a firearm/weapon, it must be stored in our securely locked weapons room located in the 2nd floor Archive Room. This room will not be accessible to the public, and must be a securely locked. The entire 2nd floor Archive Room is equipped with an electronic burglar alarm system, with one entrance and no windows. The Key and alarm code to the 2nd floor Archive Room (and consequently the weapons room) is restricted to the Executive Director, the Curator and the Administrative Manager.
> Researchers may be allowed in the weapons room, but will be screened in advance
by the Wright curator and/or executive director.
