Rare New Geneva musket returns to National Park Service

The Friendship Hill Association and the National Park Service will display the return of an artifact to Fayette County during a Feb. 1 program at Friendship Hill National Historic Site in Point Marion.

During a brief program, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Gallatin mansion, a Deed of Gift signing will acknowledge transfer of the musket to the National Park Service collection. Guests can view the musket, and light refreshments will be available.

The Friendship Hill Association, the park’s friends group, purchased the musket with bayonet, one of numerous philanthropic contributions over the 30-plus years of partnership, according to the park service.

After conservation, the musket will be on display in the Gallatin House museum.

The Gallatin musket was produced at New Geneva under state contract with Albert Gallatin & Co. Under the supervision of gun maker Melchior Baker, employees made nearly 1,200 stand of arms sets, according to the park service.

The contract specified production of muskets, bayonets, cartridge boxes and broadswords to supply Pennsylvania militia units defending the Commonwealth. Although several contracts were awarded to gun makers, Gallatin’s was the only one west of the Alleghenies, the park service says.

Of the muskets made in New Geneva, fewer than 10 are known to exist today.

The Feb. 1 program is free and open to the public.

Details: 724-329-2501 or nps.gov/frhi