Place

Information Panel: Weapons Under Fire

 Wayside in front of building foundation.

Quick Facts

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

You are standing in Arsenal Square. Weapons made in the armory were carted here for storage in the two arsenal buildings from 1803-1861. The stone rectangle in the ground in front of you outlines the large arsenal built in 1799. Problems plagued the two-story building.

An 1827 report found the large arsenal "liable to be destroyed by fire at any moment." By 1832, overcrowding posed a problem. "The large one [arsenal] is literally crammed .... Large masses [of arms] are stored in bulk for want of boxes." Both buildings were destroyed in 1861 -- gutted by fire.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Last updated: November 30, 2022