South Carolina State Arsenal

South Carolina State Arsenal
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	337 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina
Coordinates	32°47′14″N 79°56′11″W / 32.78722°N 79.93639°WCoordinates: 32°47′14″N 79°56′11″W / 32.78722°N 79.93639°W
Built	1829
Architect	Frederick Wesner and Edward B. White
NRHP Reference #	70000577[1]
Added to NRHP	July 16, 1970

The South Carolina State Arsenal (also locally familiar as "The Old Citadel") was built in 1829 after a planned 1822 slave revolt led by Denmark Vesey.^[2] 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. The school became known as the Citadel because of the appearance of its building. From 1865 to 1881, during Reconstruction in Charleston, Federal troops occupied the Citadel, and the school was closed. Classes resumed in 1882 and continued here until the school was relocated to a 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.^[3] A fourth floor was added in 1910.

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.

References

1. Staff (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
2. W.H.J. Thomas (March 19, 1971). "Architecture Follows Old Citadel Style". Charleston News & Courier. p. 24. Retrieved Nov 28, 2012.
3. "South Carolina State Arsenal, Charleston County (2 Tobacco St., Marion Square, Charleston)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved Nov 28, 2012.