A piece of American history has come home after a long absence. A .78-caliber smoothbore musket, stolen from the Valley Forge Historical Society (now the Museum of the American Revolution) in 1968, has been recovered and returned to the museum.
The musket, believed to have been used by a Continental soldier during the Revolutionary War, was one of several firearms taken during a heist over 50 years ago.
The FBI, working alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, and the Upper Merion Township Police Department, played a key role in the musket’s recent recovery.
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“Investigating art and cultural property crime requires diligence, commitment, and collaboration as these cases often cross jurisdictions and may span decades,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia. “We appreciate the assistance from our partners here today, and we thank members of the public who provide tips that are integral to these cases so that we can do our best to investigate, recover, and return to the public domain important artifacts such as this historic firearm that help document our American history.”
The investigation led them to an antique firearms collector in Maryland who, authorities believe, was unaware the musket was stolen. Following its retrieval, the firearm was returned to Chubb, an insurance company that had paid out a claim on the musket after the original theft. Chubb then generously donated the musket back to the Museum of the American Revolution, its rightful home.
“The theft of this musket from the museum kept countless visitors and historians from appreciating and studying it,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Today’s repatriation rights the wrong that was done so many years ago, reopening a window to the past. It’s an honor to help recover and preserve a piece of cultural property that helps tell the story of our nation’s valiant struggle for independence.”
The recovered musket will undergo a thorough conservation process before being put on display for the public. This homecoming marks a significant victory in the ongoing fight against art and artifact theft, and ensures that future generations can connect with this important piece of American history.
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