National Register of Historic Places

Hessian Barracks

Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland
Listed
January 24, 1971
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
71000373

About this property

Hessian Barracks, formerly known as Frederick Barracks, is an historic barracks building located in Frederick, Maryland. The State of Maryland contracted to build a barracks in the summer of 1777, but it was not completed until 1781. There were two L-shaped buildings built on the site, but one was demolished in 1871. The building is a two-story stone structure with gallery porches and a gable roof. Hessian Barracks was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the buildings and grounds were used to house British and German prisoners of war. The barracks were put to a variety of uses during the 19th century including a state armory, silkworm production site, and military hospital after the nearby Battle of South Mountain and subsequent Battle of Antietam in September 1862. The parade field served as the Agricultural Fairgrounds from 1853 to 1860. In 1867, it was chosen as the site for the Maryland Institution for the Deaf and Dumb (present-day Maryland School for the Deaf). The western barracks building was demolished in 1871 for the construction of a new Victorian style large central school building, which in turn was razed in the late 1960s, and replaced by individual brick cottages. National Register of Historic Places listings in Frederick County, Maryland "From The Front Lines to the Hospital". National Park Service. A Most Horrid Picture. August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2021. "Hessian Barracks". Daughters of the American Revolution. National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. December 20, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2021. Sachs, Rob. "Hessian Barracks in Maryland". The Big Pond (Podcast). Goethe-Institut. Event occurs at 19:26. Retrieved August 29, 2021. Media related to Hessian Barracks at Wikimedia Commons Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. MD-492, "Revolutionary Barracks, 242 South Market Street, Frederick, Frederick County, MD"

Location

242 S. Market St.
Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland
39.40906, -77.40961

Categories

MILITARYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Hessian Barracks

This page lists Hessian Barracks. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Hessian Barracks report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Loats Female Orphan Asylum of Frederick City
Industrial
0.4 mi
Frederick Historic District
Industrial
0.5 mi
Frederick Armory
Industrial
0.6 mi
Frederick Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.6 mi
Guilford
Industrial
1 mi

Nearby Battles

Confederate Occupation of Frederick Maryland
1862Civil War
0.4 mi
Battle of Frederick (1864)
1864Civil War
0.4 mi
Frederick MD Skirmish 1864 (Early's Raid)
1864Civil War
0.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hessian Barracks listed on the National Register?

Hessian Barracks was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 24, 1971.

What type of historic resource is Hessian Barracks?

Hessian Barracks is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Hessian Barracks?

The period of significance for Hessian Barracks is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Hessian Barracks?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Hessian Barracks will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Frederick County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Frederick County.

Explore FrederickCounty ›

More historic places in Maryland

Browse all historic places in Maryland.

View Marylandhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Maryland history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Marylandhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Hessian Barracks will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report