People in a Polk County city got a piece of history this weekend and it’s all thanks to an amateur archaeologist.

Everything from bullets, buttons and old guns dating back to the 1800s were all on display at the Fort Meade Historical museum.

Dwight Dovel said he found the items while digging about 20 years ago.

“It’s an amazing recovery. You’re the first person to pick that up in 180 years. The guy drops it and you pick it back up. It’s just a remarkable, remarkable hobby,” Dovel said.

It’s a hobby that took a major setback 20 years ago when the city told Dovel they didn’t want his findings from the 1800s. Thankfully that’s changed.

“Fortunately the city of Fort Meade has realized what we had and it’s now come back home finally,” he said.

With the historical pieces on display at the Fort Meade Historical Museum this weekend the people of the small city are getting a look back in time.

“It’s a gigantic collection. It’s amazing the men kept their uniforms on after losing all those buttons,” said Fort Meade resident Bob Shirley.

Eight-year-old Randall Blankenship couldn’t get enough of the display. “I looked at some cool old stuff,” he said.

And if you’re wondering where Dovel found this treasure trove, he’s not telling. But we do know it’s somewhere in the city. He said it’s his way of preserving the site and whatever else out there that may be undiscovered.

Dovel said he’s in talks with the city to put the items on display permanently at a new museum set to be built soon.

The artifacts will be displayed this weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at the museum located at 1 Tecumseh Ave.