We've selected some highlights from various areas of our collection. Of course, nothing compares to seeing them in person, so on your next visit, see if you can find the ones that interest you most.

The Evolution of European Armor

From the ancient Greek hoplites at Thermopylae, to the knights of the medieval battlefield, to the decline and revival of armor in the age of gunpowder — the museum's collections trace the evolution of arms and armor in response to the changing face of Western warfare, culture, and society.

Arms and Courtly Life

Armor was an integral feature of the chivalric world of knights and kings, lords and ladies. Discover what it was like to wear armor, how it was made, and its role in warfare, sport, and spectacle.

Arms and Armor around the World

The warrior-aristocrats of medieval and Renaissance Europe had their counterparts in feudal Japan, imperial China, and Mughal India. In the "Scimitars to Samurai" exhibit, explore the story of cultures around the globe through the arms and armor of kings and caliphs, tribesmen and nomads.