Benicia Arsenal
Arsenal, Benicia, California.
- Side
- Union
- Kind
- Arsenal
- Where
- Benicia, California
- Years
- 1861-1865
- Today
- Museum
BENICIA ARSENAL
The first Army ordnance supply depot in the West and the primary Army ordnance facility for the West Coast. When the war began it rushed 30,000 muskets by ship to the East via Panama, and it served as a staging area for Union troops from the West.
Then
The first Army ordnance supply depot in the West, designated an arsenal in 1852 and the primary Army ordnance facility for the West Coast. When the war began it rushed 30,000 muskets by ship to the East via Panama, and it served as a staging area for Union troops from the West.
A company of the 6th Infantry garrisoned the arsenal, and its ordnance was stored in the Clock Tower storehouse. The arsenal also sent an Army company to guard the powder magazine at Mare Island for six months, and a two-story sandstone and brick shop building went up in 1862.
Now
Museum
The arsenal closed in 1964 and was redeveloped as work and sales space for artists and artisans. The 1855 Camel Barns are now the Museum of History Benicia.
The nearest railroad in service today is a line owned by Union Pacific, about 0.4 miles away.