St. Louis Arsenal History
The St. Louis Arsenal, a sprawling complex of military storage buildings in St. Louis, Missouri, stands as a testament to the evolving needs and strategic importance of the United States military. Established in 1827, this facility continues to serve its nation today, bearing witness to pivotal moments in American history. Its story is one of growth, adaptation, and occasional brushes with the volatile currents of national conflict.
The arsenal’s origins trace back to 1825, when a smaller installation was situated at Fort Belle Fontaine, approximately 15 miles north of St. Louis. However, the aging fort and its limited arsenal were deemed inadequate for the expanding requirements of the War Department. Recognizing the need for a more substantial and strategically positioned facility, plans were set in motion to construct a new arsenal.
Lieutenant Martin Thomas played a crucial role in selecting the site for the new St. Louis Arsenal. He identified a 37-acre parcel of land on a bluff overlooking the majestic Mississippi River. This location offered several advantages: a commanding strategic view of the surrounding area, convenient access to the river for transportation of supplies, and close proximity to Jefferson Barracks, the main area military base. This ensured efficient coordination and logistical support.
Construction of the first building on the new arsenal grounds was completed in 1827. While the structure was ready, it would take another year before it began fulfilling its primary purpose of storing ammunition. In the interim, Fort Belle Fontaine continued to serve as the primary supplier of ammunition and military supplies to troops operating within the vast Louisiana Territory, maintaining its function until June 1828.
With the commencement of operations at the St. Louis Arsenal, Fort Belle Fontaine was subsequently abandoned. The new arsenal rapidly expanded, growing to encompass a large three-story brick building, an armory for the production and maintenance of weaponry, an ammunition plant for the manufacturing of cartridges and explosives, and several wagon repair shops essential for maintaining the army’s transportation infrastructure. By 1840, the St. Louis Arsenal had become a significant military installation, comprising 22 separate buildings. A garrison of 30 ordnance soldiers was stationed at the site, along with a civilian workforce of approximately 30 employees who were tasked with assembling finished weapons and artillery pieces.
The Mexican-American War, which erupted in 1846, placed significant demands on the St. Louis Arsenal. The facility became a hub of activity, focused on the production of small arms, ammunition, and artillery to support the war effort. To meet these heightened demands, the civilian workforce was dramatically increased to approximately 500 men. During the war, the St. Louis Arsenal produced and stored an impressive array of military supplies, including 19,500 artillery rounds, 8.4 million small arms cartridges, 13.7 million musket balls, 4.7 million rifle balls, 17 field cannons complete with attachments, 15,700 stands of small arms, and 4,600 edged weapons, alongside numerous other essential items. Following the conclusion of the war, the civilian staff was reduced to approximately 30 individuals, and the arsenal entered a period of relative quiet for about a decade, until the onset of the Utah War in 1857. The Utah War triggered another surge in activity, and the civilian staff was once again expanded, reaching approximately 100 civilians.
In the years leading up to the Civil War, anxieties surrounding the potential for secession grew. Members of Congress, anticipating the impending conflict, requested that their state quotas of arms and ammunition be shipped from the St. Louis Arsenal to state armories and arsenals, preparing their states for potential conflict. In December 1860, President James Buchanan’s Secretary of War, John B. Floyd, a Virginian, faced accusations of aiding the Southern states by facilitating the transfer of arms. Floyd resigned from his post and returned to Virginia. An investigation later revealed that he had bolstered Federal arsenals in some Southern states by over 115,000 muskets and rifles in late 1859. Additionally, he had ordered heavy artillery to be shipped to Federal forts in Galveston Harbor, Texas, and Fort Massachusetts in Mississippi. Although officially cleared of wrongdoing, suspicions persisted that his actions had inadvertently helped arm the Confederate States of America in preparation for the Civil War.
By early 1861, the nation teetered on the brink of Civil War, with states choosing sides. Missouri found itself in a precarious position, as a significant portion of its residents sympathized with the Southern cause and supported the institution of slavery. Despite this, the Missouri Constitutional Convention of March 1861 voted to remain within the Union, but also declared its neutrality, refusing to supply men or weapons to either side in the event of war. This decision led to internal conflict, pitting the U.S. Army against Missouri citizens, and making the St. Louis Arsenal a crucial strategic target.
In March 1861, General Nathaniel Lyon arrived in St. Louis to assume command of Company D of the 2nd U.S. Infantry. At the time, Missouri Governor Claiborne F. Jackson was a known Southern sympathizer, as were many state legislators. Lyon rightly feared that Jackson might attempt to seize the federal arsenal in St. Louis if the state seceded. The Union forces in the area were insufficient to effectively defend the arsenal against such an attack.
One of Lyon’s primary objectives was to bolster the defenses of the arsenal, but his superiors, including Brigadier General William S. Harney of the Department of the West, initially opposed his efforts. However, Lyon sought the assistance of General Francis P. Blair, who concurred that Southern leaders might attempt to draw neutral Missouri into the Confederate cause. Lyon was soon appointed commander of the arsenal, and General Blair formed a secret paramilitary group of 1,000 men known as the Wide Awakes, to provide additional security and support.
On April 20, 1861, pro-Confederate forces seized the only other arsenal in the state, the Liberty Arsenal, located in Liberty, Missouri. The Southern sympathizers captured approximately 1000 muskets, four brass field pieces, and a small quantity of ammunition. This event marked the first act of civilian Civil War hostility against the Federal government within the state.
In response to the seizure of the Liberty Arsenal, Lyon armed the Wide Awake units and, on April 29, secretly transferred all but 10,000 rifles and muskets to Alton, Illinois, ensuring their safety. A few days later, on May 10, he directed the Missouri volunteer regiments and the 2nd U.S. Infantry to capture a force of Missouri State Guards stationed at Camp Jackson in the suburbs of St. Louis, who were suspected of planning to seize the arsenal. Federal troops surrounded and captured the camp, forcing its surrender. While Lyon’s actions provided the Union with an initial advantage in Missouri, they also ignited secessionist sentiments and heightened tensions within the state.
Following the capture of the Missouri State Guards, Lyon marched them through the streets of St. Louis to the Arsenal. This procession was perceived as a public humiliation for the state forces, enraging citizens who witnessed the event. Riots erupted as Missouri citizens hurled rocks, paving stones, and insults at Lyon’s troops. When a pistol shot was fired into their ranks, fatally wounding a Union soldier, the Federals responded by firing into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of approximately 20 people, including women and children, and wounding as many as 50 more. This tragic incident, known as the "St. Louis Massacre," sparked several days of rioting that were only quelled with the imposition of martial law and the arrival of Federal Regulars. The highly publicized affair further intensified the already volatile situation in the border state of Missouri.
Later, General Nathaniel Lyon was killed in the Battle of Wilson’s Creek on August 10, 1861. The St. Louis Arsenal remained under Federal control throughout the Civil War. With St. Louis firmly in Union hands, the arsenal played a crucial role in providing substantial quantities of war materiel to the Union armies operating in the Western Theater.
After the Civil War concluded, the arsenal once again entered a period of relative inactivity. In March 1869, ten acres of the arsenal grounds were donated to the City of St. Louis to create Lyon Park, named in honor of General Nathaniel Lyon. Two years later, in 1871, it was determined that ammunition could be more securely stored at Jefferson Barracks, and the supplies were transferred accordingly, although the U.S. Army retained ownership of the arsenal grounds.
In later years, the arsenal complex was transferred to the control of the United States Air Force and the Department of Defense. Today, it remains an active military reservation, housing a significant branch of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
While most of the St. Louis Arsenal and its grounds are currently closed to the public, a portion of the site, Lyon Park, is accessible to visitors. Lyon Park is located near the intersection of South Broadway and Arsenal Streets.