If you grew up with a Daisy BB gun or remember Ralphie asking for a Red Ryder in A Christmas Story, you may enjoy a quick stop at the Daisy Airgun Museum in downtown Rogers.
This is a small museum, and it definitely won’t be for everyone. However, we were already exploring downtown Rogers, and my husband fondly remembers his Daisy BB gun, so we stopped in.
They have a large collection of old airguns along with advertising, photographs and other memorabilia from Daisy’s long history. Someone who owned a Daisy, collects airguns or enjoys nostalgic pieces of Americana will probably find it much more interesting than the average visitor.
The museum is also inexpensive and easy to pair with shopping, eating or exploring elsewhere in downtown Rogers.
Why is there a Daisy Airgun Museum in Rogers?
Because Daisy is based in Rogers! Somehow, after all these years of writing about Arkansas, I did not know that.
Daisy moved its operations from Plymouth, Michigan, to Rogers in 1958 and has been part of the city ever since.
Daisy’s Surprising History
The most interesting thing I learned is that Daisy did not begin as an airgun company.
The company started as the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company in Plymouth, Michigan. In 1888, local inventor Clarence Hamilton brought the company an all-metal air rifle he had designed.
According to company history, general manager Lewis Cass Hough fired the little rifle and exclaimed, “Boy, that’s a Daisy!” Apparently, at the time, calling something a daisy meant it was excellent.
The air rifles became far more popular than the windmills. In 1895, the company left the windmill business entirely and changed its name to Daisy Manufacturing Company.
Daisy moved from Plymouth to Rogers, Arkansas, in 1958. The company opened its original museum at the Rogers manufacturing facility in 1966. Today’s museum is housed in a historic downtown building constructed in 1896.
What You’ll See at the Daisy Airgun Museum
The museum is essentially a walk through Daisy’s history. Glass display cases hold antique and vintage airguns, including many models that will probably look familiar to longtime Daisy owners and collectors.
You’ll also see old advertisements, photographs, signs, targets, packaging and plenty of other Daisy memorabilia.
Yes, of course, they have a leg lamp! Fans of the movie A Christmas Story will get the connection immediately.
The Red Ryder gets quite a bit of attention. The BB gun that Ralphie desperately wants for Christmas has become so tied to A Christmas Story that you’ll find plenty of movie-related merchandise in the museum.
Interestingly, the exact Red Ryder Ralphie describes in the movie never actually existed. His dream BB gun combined features from more than one Daisy model.
The museum has more information available than you might realize from simply walking through it. Many exhibits have QR codes you can scan with your phone to read or hear more about what you’re seeing. Headsets are also available for an audio tour.
We mostly browsed the displays on our own. If you are truly interested in Daisy history or antique airguns, using the audio tour or QR codes would give you a much more detailed visit.
A Slightly Unusual Admission Setup
The way you enter and pay caught me by surprise.
You walk into the museum on one side of the building and begin looking at the exhibits. The displays lead you through the museum and eventually into the gift shop. That is where you pay the admission charge.
We didn’t realize when we walked in that there was an admission fee, so it was a little surprising to discover that only after we had already been through the museum.
NOTE: I’ll admit that I discovered after looking at my photos from the visit that there is a sign at the front saying that there is an admission fee, but I missed it at the time and don’t want you to do the same.
Admission is currently $2.50 for adults, while children under 12 are free, so it is certainly not expensive, just unexpected.
Each paid admission also includes a limited-edition commemorative medallion.
Don’t Miss the Giant Daisy BB Gun
Before you leave, look for the World’s Largest Daisy BB Gun on the Second Street side of the museum building.
The oversized Red Ryder was installed in 2021 and stands 25 feet tall. Its stock is weighted with 180 pounds of Daisy BBs. It is one of those quirky roadside-style attractions that makes an easy photo stop, even if you don’t spend long inside the museum.
Is the Daisy Airgun Museum Worth Visiting?
The Daisy Airgun Museum is worth a stop if you owned a Daisy BB gun, collect airguns, enjoy A Christmas Story or like unusual pieces of American history.
I would not plan an entire trip around it, and visitors without a connection to Daisy may move through fairly quickly. But it is located right in historic downtown Rogers, costs very little and gives you a look at a company that has been part of the city since 1958.
I would allow about 30 minutes for a casual visit. Give yourself longer if you plan to use the audio tour, scan the QR codes or study the antique airguns closely.
Plan Your Visit
Address: 202 W. Walnut Street, Rogers, Arkansas 72756
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum recommends arriving by 4 p.m.
Admission: $2.50 for adults; free for children under 12
Parking: Street parking and nearby downtown parking are available
Website: Rogers Daisy Airgun Museum
Hours and admission can change, so check the museum’s website before your visit.
If you are looking for more things to do while in the area be sure and check out our guide to all the best things to do in NWA. If you are traveling with children we also have a list of 35 things to do with kids in Northwest Arkansas.
