John Small rifle and powderhorn. Photo courtesy of the Grouseland Foundation at 3 W. Scott St., Vincennes, Indiana (all rights reserved; used by permission).
Official State Rifle of Indiana
The "Grouseland Rifle" was designated the official rifle of the state of Indiana in 2012. Pennsylvania also recognizes a long rifle as a state symbol (Pennsylvania long rifle; the origin of the "Kentucky long rifle"), and West Virginia designates a flintlock rifle as an official symbol. All State Firearms
The Grouseland rifle was crafted by Colonel John Small of Vincennes, Indiana over 200 years ago (between 1803 and 1812) and is now on display at the Grouseland mansion in Vincennes. "Grouseland" is President William Henry Harrison's home. The Grouseland mansion is now a museum maintained by The Grouseland Foundation at 3 W. Scott St., Vincennes, Indiana, where folks can not only see the Indiana state rifle, but also an interpretation of territorial life and why the gun was important, as well as the legacy of William Henry Harrison to the westward expansion of the country and the development of the state of Indiana.
CONTRIBUTORS: Content for this article was submitted by Lisa Ice-Jones, Executive Director, William Henry Harrison's Grouseland [GrouselandFoundation.org].
