Champlain Arsenal facts for kids

Champlain Arsenal was an important military base built in the 1800s. It was located near a town called Vergennes, Vermont. This place was like a big storage area for weapons and supplies for the United States Army.

Two of the original buildings, which were built in 1825, are still standing today. These old buildings are now the oldest parts of what used to be the Vermont Industrial School. Today, this site is a Job Corps center, which helps young people learn skills for jobs. The two old arsenal buildings have been closed since the 1970s.

What Was the Champlain Arsenal?

The United States Army started this federal arsenal around 1826 or 1828. An arsenal is a place where military weapons and ammunition are made, stored, or repaired.

Early Years and Purpose

The Champlain Arsenal was a busy place. It had many different buildings. There were homes for the officers who worked there, and barracks where soldiers lived. It also had a magazine, which is a safe place to store gunpowder and other explosives. Plus, there were large storehouses for weapons and other military supplies.

A famous person named Josiah Gorgas worked at the Champlain Arsenal for a short time. He later became a very important general during the American Civil War.

A Brief Closure and Reopening

The Army stopped using the Champlain Arsenal in 1855. It was closed for a few years. However, when the American Civil War began in 1861, the arsenal was needed again. So, it reopened to help with the war effort.

The Final Chapter

After the Civil War ended, the Army left the Champlain Arsenal for good in 1872. The War Department, which was in charge of the Army at the time, sold the entire site in 1873.