Andy Palmer's Military Inn, Dearborn, MI, circa 1949

Subjects: Advertising Restaurants & Taverns
Card type: Printed photo
Date: c. 1949 (Chrome)

Back of Andy Palmer's Military Inn, Dearborn, MI, circa 1949, c. 1949 printed photo postcard — Back

About this postcard

Halftone view of Andy Palmer's Military Inn, a stone and half-timbered building with a crenellated tower, set among trees on Warren Avenue at Telegraph Road in Dearborn, Michigan, four miles northwest of Ford's Greenfield Village. The back carries a red-toned interior view of the inn. Printed text recounts that Palmer rebuilt the inn in 1949 from bricks and timbers of the old Detroit Arsenal, built in 1833-34 and torn down in 1945, and that it housed his collection of over 5000 weapons, including guns associated with Jesse James, Annie Oakley, Al Capone, and John Dillinger. The card also advertises a 48-page souvenir booklet of Palmer's favorite Western tales and photographs of more than 29 Colt guns, sold for 50 cents.

Postcard Details

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HOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST GUN COLLECTION Andy Palmer's MILITARY INN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN On Telegraph Rd. (U.S. 24) at Warren Ave. 4 miles N.W. of Ford's Greenfield Village. SOUVENIR BOOKLET "Andy Palmer's Favorite Tales of the Old West" contains many stories, as well as photographs of over 29 Colt guns. You will want to read about Jesse James, Billie The Kid, Wyatt Earp, Black Bart, Death Valley Scotty and many other famous western characters. This 48 page booklet may be obtained for 50 cents. This Card Will Be Mailed For You At The Military Inn If mailed elsewhere a 2c stamp is required Sec. 34.66 P.L.&R. U.S. Postage PAID Inkster, Mich. Permit No. 61 Military Inn World's Largest Gun Collection WARREN AVE. AT TELEGRAPH, DEARBORN MICH. W. GLASSON COOMBE - ARCHITECT INTERIOR VIEW OF THE MILITARY INN Timbers and planks are over 115 years old, now house the famous Andy Palmer's collection of over 5000 weapons. The Military Inn rebuilt from the old Detroit Arsenal which was built in 1833-4 on land which is now West Dearborn. The arsenal torn down in 1945, was bought by Andy, each brick and timber was carefully stored and in 1949 it was rebuilt into what is now the new Military Inn. Thousands of guns decorate the walls of the Inn. In illuminated cases are thousands more, among them is the Adams pistol that killed Long Nose Kate in 1882 in Bisby, Arizona. Kate's friend was Doc Holliday, notorious tinhorn gambler, pal of Wyatt Earp, U. S. Marshall of Tombstone, Arizona. Other famous guns are the rifle Pawnee Bill gave to sharp-shooting Annie Oakley and the gun that killed the infamous train robber Jesse James. Among the famous items from the "Roaring" 1920's are the pocket gun of Scarface Al Capone, former gangland chief, and the holster of another famous desperado -- John Dillinger.

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Postcard record

Series	6372
Condition	Good
Place depicted	Dearborn, MI
Notes	Halftone print with white margin at bottom; divided-back advertising card with a red-toned interior view of the Military Inn on the back. The front title is printed over the photo: "HOME OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST GUN COLLECTION" and "Andy Palmer's MILITARY INN / DEARBORN, MICHIGAN," with a script caption "Military Inn / World's Largest Gun Collection" on the image. A handwritten dealer mark reads "3/3 / $2." Postage-paid permit imprint reads "Sec. 34.66 P.L.&R. / U.S. Postage / PAID / Inkster, Mich. / Permit No. 61"; the architect credit "W. GLASSON COOMBE - ARCHITECT" is printed at the bottom of the front. No publisher imprint visible.

Cite this card

Andy Palmer's Military Inn, Dearborn, MI, circa 1949, postcard, c. 1949. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/andy-palmers-military-inn-dearborn-mi-circa-1949. Accessed November 2, 2026.