Powder Magazine Museum

Powder Magazine Museum at Jefferson Barracks
342 CCC Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
Directions: Inside Jefferson Barracks County Park (I-255 to Telegraph Road exit, veer right onto Kingston Drive, then right on Grant Road / Broadway) Follow the signs once inside the Park.
Admission: Free
Info: (P) 314-615-8822
http://www.co.st-louis.mo.us/parks/jb-museum.html




Jefferson Barracks was built as a military fort replacing Fort Belle Fontaine near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in upper St. Louis County. The site for Jefferson Barracks was selected in 1826 by two army generals, the Missouri governor at the time, and explorer William Clark (of Lewis and Clark fame). The 1,702 acre site was purchased from the city of Carondelet for a $5 gold piece (today that price would be roughly $95). Less than two weeks later soldiers from Belle Fontaine would begin construction on what would formally become Jefferson Barracks in 1827 to honor President Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson Barracks was intended as a school of practice for American infantry trained at West Point. J.B. served as a fort for the United States from 1826 - 1946. It was the army's first permanent base west of the Mississippi River and by the 1840's was the largest military establishment in the United States. In 1832 the US Regiment of Dragoons was formed at Jefferson Barracks. Dragoons were soldiers trained to fight on foot and horseback. Eventually, the dragoons became the American Calvary.

The Powder Magazine Museum is housed in a former arsenal storage building of the fort. Built in 1857 as storage for rifles, gun powder, and cannon balls the museum today houses a permanent exhibit of artifacts depicting Jefferson Barracks' history and America's history in military conflicts. The museum is one of a number historic attractions on the site but it is free (thus its mention on this blog) and consistent in its exhibit.

Today, the original Jefferson Barracks has become a national guard base (Army and Air), two county parks, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, a Veteran's Affairs hospital, and residential neighborhoods. Eventually, the site will also be home to the Missouri Civil War Museum which will be another great destination at Jefferson Barracks in the future. Until then, visit the Powder Magazine Museum and learn more about the history of Jefferson Barracks.