March into Spring Break with family-friendly activities for all ages at the Museum. Info & Tickets

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During the Revolutionary War, soldiers sometimes kept their gunpowder dry by storing it in hollow cows' horns, called powder horns. You can see several powder horns in the Museum's online collection, like the one that belonged to William Waller, who carved his name and "Liberty or Death" into it, or the one carried by Gershom Prince, an African American soldier who fought at the Battle of Wyoming.

Browse the powder horns available in our online collection for inspiration before etching your own.

Powder Horn Craft

Materials Needed

Share your completed powder horn with us @amrevmuseum on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

The powder horn craft was originally released as part of the Museum's Virtual Spring Break programming, sponsored by PECO, which ran online in April 2020, featuring do-at-home crafts and activities, virtual story time, Artisan Field Trip living history interviews, and live Q&As with Museum staff.

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Image 091120 William Waller Powder Horn Collection 1775 Wallerpowderhorn
 

William Waller's Powder Horn

This powder horn was carried by Virginia rifleman William Waller and is etched with the slogan "LIBERTY or DEATH."
See Object
Image 091120 Samuel Dudley Powder Horn Collection Samueldudleyspowderhorn
 

Samuel Dudley's Powder Horn

This charming powder horn was decorated for a New England soldier Samuel Dudley serving in Warwick, Rhode Island, in December 1777.
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This image shows Abel Scott's Powder Horn. It is displayed against a white background. It is attached to a brown strap.
 

Abel Scott's Powder Horn

This engraved powder horn belonged to Abel Scott, a New England soldier who served in five military campaigns of the Revolutionary War.
See Object