The Philadelphia field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other authorities announced Monday that they have recovered a Revolutionary War-era musket that was stolen in an art heist in the 1960s.

At the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, the FBI's Art Crimes Team, Philadelphia Field Office and others held a ceremony to “return” the musket, which was “removed from Valley Forge in October 1968.” According to the FBI's Philadelphia Public Affairs Team, I have written.

Say “Hello” to Weapons: Stolen Musket Returned to Join American Revolutionary War Museum Collection https://t.co/D5i0hjaoRC

— NBC10 Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) July 1, 2024

In April 2024, the FBI published an article about historical artifacts stolen in the 1968 robbery. After the article was published, the FBI received a tip that led them to an antique firearms collector in Maryland. The collector met with the FBI Art Crimes Team and handed over the musket. The FBI reported that the collector knew nothing about the 1968 robbery and had no idea the musket had been stolen. (Related article: “Amazing piece of American culture”: Federal government discovers Theodore Roosevelt's 126-year-old watch after being lost for decades)

The musket's insurance company, now Chubb, paid the insurance in 1969 and became the owner of the musket, but it donated it to a museum in Philadelphia, signing the deed at a ceremony on Monday.

“This musket's theft from the museum denied countless visitors and historians the opportunity to view and study it,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “Today's return righted a wrong made many years ago and reopened a window into the past. We are honored to help recover and preserve this cultural artifact that tells the story of our nation's courageous struggle for independence.”

“We are so grateful to our law enforcement and insurance partners for helping us return this historic artifact to public property,” said R. Scott Stevenson, director and CEO of the American Revolutionary War Museum. “Returning the New England musket to the museum will allow for preservation, further study and display, deepening our understanding of the Revolutionary War era and ensuring its enduring importance.”

“Chubb is honored to donate this historic Revolutionary War musket to the National Museum of American Revolutionary War where it rightfully belongs,” said Maria Thaxton, Chubb's vice president and Mid-Atlantic claims officer.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and his office also assisted in the resolution of the situation.