Stone Gardens: Berryville museum honors legacy of world renown marksman collector
- Dennis McCaslin
- May 14
- 2 min read
Charles Burton “Buck” Saunders, a world-class marksman and collector, left a lasting mark on Berryville, Arkansas, through his storied life and the Saunders Museum. His journey from a turbulent childhood to global fame is a Carroll County treasure.
Born February 2, 1863, in Greenville, Texas, to judge Levi B. Saunders and Martha Sherrod, Saunders faced early hardship. At age two, his mother and sister were kidnapped by Native Americans, and his father was wounded in their rescue.
After their home burned down during Civil War unrest, the family relocated to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and later Berryville for education at the Berryville Male and Female Academy.
Saunders excelled as a marksman, winning the World Championship for Pistol Shooting, the 1910 Renette Prize in Paris, and the Southwestern Missouri Pistol Shooting Competition at 75.
He toured with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, showcasing his skills to international audiences.
A passionate collector, Saunders gathered firearms, antiques, furniture, jewelry, and taxidermy from his global travels. His collection, including guns owned by Sam Houston, Annie Oakley, Belle Starr, and Jesse and Frank James, became the core of the Saunders Museum in Berryville.
In 1936, Berryville honored Saunders’ 73rd birthday, and Governor Junius Marion Futrell named him a “Colonel” in the Arkansas reserve militia. His legacy bolsters Carroll County’s historical significance, established in 1833, with Berryville and Eureka Springs as dual county seats.
Saunders died of a heart attack on October 29, 1952, at 89, in a Hot Springs hospital. He is buried at Berryville Memorial Cemetery.
His will funded the Saunders Museum, which opened in 1956 and remains a key attraction, displaying his firearms and artifacts.
The Saunders Museum continues to draw visitors, preserving Buck Saunders’ contributions to Carroll County’s heritage.
