National Register of Historic Places

Hessian Powder Magazine

Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Listed
May 16, 1974
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
74001778

About this property

The Hessian Powder Magazine, also known as the Hessian Guardhouse Museum, is an historic guardhouse and gunpowder magazine which is located on the grounds of the Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Built in 1777, the Hessian Powder Magazine is a stone walled structure, which is lined with interior brick. It measures seventy feet by thirty-two feet with walls that are four-and-one-half-feet thick. It also has a vaulted stone roof, which is covered by timbers and tin, creating a gable form. Tradition says that Hessian prisoners of war, who were captured during the Battle of Trenton were sent to Carlisle, and used to build this guard house, which was originally a magazine. It may have first been used as a guardhouse during the 1870s, and also as part of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (1879–1918). Afterwards, it was used as a quartermaster and medical supply storehouse, filmstrip laboratory, message center, and U.S. post office. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. History and information - US Army Heritage and Education Center

Location

Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
40.19801, -77.17808

Categories

HISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINALMILITARYARCHITECTURE
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 Powder Magazine

This page lists Hessian Powder Magazine. 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 Powder Magazine report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Carlisle Historic District
Listed
0.4 mi
Carlisle Indian School
Listed
0.8 mi
Old West, Dickinson College
Industrial
1 mi
Carlisle Armory
Industrial
1.6 mi
Melester Barn
Industrial
1.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Carlisle PA — Confederate Occupation June 1863
1863Civil War
0.6 mi
Battle of Carlisle PA June 1863
1863Civil War
0.6 mi
Battle of Carlisle
1863Civil War
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hessian Powder Magazine listed on the National Register?

Hessian Powder Magazine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 16, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Hessian Powder Magazine?

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

What is the period of significance for Hessian Powder Magazine?

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

Can I research the history near Hessian Powder Magazine?

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 Powder Magazine will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Cumberland County

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

Explore CumberlandCounty ›

More historic places in Pennsylvania

Browse all historic places in Pennsylvania.

View Pennsylvaniahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Pennsylvania history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Pennsylvaniahistory ›

Research the history near this site

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

Research your locationView a free sample report