National Register of Historic Places

South Carolina State Arsenal

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Listed
July 15, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
70000577

About this property

The South Carolina State Arsenal ("The Old Citadel") in Charleston, South Carolina was built in 1829 in response to the alleged 1822 slave revolt led by Denmark Vesey. The alleged uprising never came to fruition and Vesey was publicly hanged in 1822. In 1842 the South Carolina Military Academy, a liberal arts military college, was established by the state legislature, and the school took over the arsenal the following year as one of 2 campuses, the other being the Arsenal Academy in Columbia, South Carolina. The school became known as the Citadel Academy because of the appearance of its building. From 1865 to 1881, during Reconstruction, Federal troops occupied the Citadel, and the school was closed. Classes resumed in 1882 and continued in this building until the school was relocated to a new campus on the banks of the Ashley River in 1922. Frederick Wesner and Edward Brickell White are credited with the Citadel's design. The original State Arsenal building was a two-story brick building around a courtyard, designed by Wesner. White was responsible for changes to the building about 1850, and added the third floor and wings. A fourth floor was added in 1910. The building was lightly damaged by the 1886 Charleston earthquake, but suffered more serious damage from an 1892 fire which is believed to have begun in a chimney that was cracked in the earlier tremor. Charleston County used the building for government offices during much of the 20th century. In 1994 a local development firm renovated the building for use as a hotel.

Location

2 Tobacco St. (Marion Sq.)
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
32.78750, -79.93620

Categories

MILITARYEDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
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 South Carolina State Arsenal

This page lists South Carolina State Arsenal. 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 South Carolina State Arsenal report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Manigault, Joseph, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Charleston Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Listed
0.1 mi
Charleston Historic District
Industrial
0.1 mi
Aiken, William, House and Associated Railroad Structures
Listed
0.2 mi
College of Charleston
Colonial
0.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Charleston Apr-May 1780
1780Revolutionary War
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was South Carolina State Arsenal listed on the National Register?

South Carolina State Arsenal was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 15, 1970.

What type of historic resource is South Carolina State Arsenal?

South Carolina State Arsenal is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for South Carolina State Arsenal?

The period of significance for South Carolina State Arsenal is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near South Carolina State Arsenal?

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 South Carolina State Arsenal will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Charleston County

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

Explore CharlestonCounty ›

More historic places in South Carolina

Browse all historic places in South Carolina.

View South Carolinahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

South Carolina history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

South Carolinahistory ›

Research the history near this site

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

Research your locationView a free sample report