The Higgins Armory Collection

In the1920’s, John Woodman Higgins was president of Worcester Pressed Steel Company, deeply interested in metal crafts. He began collecting historical armor, quickly outgrowing his home. In 1931, he built a unique Art Deco glass and steel building next to his factory to house the collection which included thousands of pieces of arms and armor from all over the world.

The Higgins Armory Museum

The old Higgins Armory Museum was housed in a marvelous building that looked like a cross between a factory and a steel and glass castle. The galleries featured high ceilings, stained glass windows and posed figures on horseback and in hand-to-hand combat.

The old museum closed in 2013 and the collection was acquired by the Worcester Art Museum.

Inside the Old Higgins Armory Museum

The Arms and Armor Galleries at the Worcester Art Museum

The Worcester Art Museum is now the home to the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection of over 1500 objects. This is the second largest collection of arms and armor in the United States. For several years, objects from the collection were scattered throughout the museum’s galleries. I could find some of my favorite pieces, such as the Gladiator’s Helmet and Helmutt, the armored dog, circulating in different galleries. Full suits of armor popped up everywhere.

In November 2025, the museum opened new Arms and Armor galleries, including a large display gallery and a room filled with objects in open storage. You can also look up every object in an online database. The new galleries are filled with light and full of interesting objects that show the breathtaking scope of this collection.

Arms and Armor Collection at the Worcester Art Museum