BLOOMFIELD, MO (KFVS) -
A Heartland man says he loaned his family's civil war musket to a local museum, and says now, no one knows where it is.
Brad Phillips says he loaned his 1864 US Springfield Civil War Rifle Musket to the Stars and Stripes Museum and Library in Bloomfield, Missouri in 2003.
"It's a piece of American History," said Phillips. "I didn't feel comfortable leaving it in my home, afraid it might get stolen."
This year, he wanted to check on it. He says he called repeatedly for months with no response, and finally decided to visit the museum.
"I say ok, where's my rifle?" said Phillips. "I don't see it on display, I hand her my certificate of loan, she doesn't hesitate, she knows exactly what gun I'm talking about. She says oh it's missing, we don't know where it is."
Phillips says he contacted Dr. Joe Baker, the President of the Board of Directors for the museum, and together they filed a police report.
Dr. Baker told Heartland News he does not want to make a comment on the situation.
Bloomfield Police say they are currently investigating the case, and are interviewing people for information.
"Frustrated, angry," said Phillips. "Very angry because I feel that they're trying to hide things from me. If I wouldn't have gone down there to check on my rifle, I would have never known it was missing."
Phillips says a firearms dealer told him the gun is worth $3,500 to $4,000.
But he says it's not just about the money.
"It's been the family for along time, and it means a lot to me because it was one of my dads prized possessions," said Phillips.
A possession that Phillips hopes to get back in his possession one day soon.
"Trusted the museum to protect and keep it safe and they didn't do that," said Phillips.
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