Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal facts for kids
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Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Main façade of the Tower Building
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 Location in Arkansas
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| Location | 503 E. 9th St., Little Rock, Arkansas |
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| Built | 1841 |
| Architect | John Warmley Walker |
| Part of | MacArthur Park Historic District (ID77000269) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000127 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 28, 1970 |
| Designated CP | July 25, 1977 |
The Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal is a historic building in Little Rock, Arkansas. It is also known as the Main Building of the U.S. Arsenal at Little Rock. Today, it is home to the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. This building is part of the MacArthur Park Historic District.
Built between 1840 and 1841, it was part of Little Rock's first U.S. military base. After the military stopped using it, the building became home to two museums. From 1942 to 1997, it housed the Arkansas Museum of Natural History and Antiquities. Since 2001, it has been the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. The Little Rock Æsthetic Club has also met here since 1894.
The building gets its name from its unique octagonal (eight-sided) tower. It is the last building left from the original U.S. military base. It is also one of the oldest buildings in central Arkansas. Famous General Douglas MacArthur was born here. He led U.S. forces in the South Pacific during World War II. The Camden Expedition during the American Civil War also started from this location.
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History of the Tower Building
The Tower Building and the park around it were used for many public things in the early 1900s. The building was the main office for the United Confederate Veterans Reunion in May 1911. More than 106,000 Civil War veterans attended, making it the biggest gathering in the city's history at that time. Many stayed in the building or camped in the park.
Later, the building was used as an armory for the Arkansas National Guard. In 1912, the second floor became Little Rock's first public library. In 1917, a fire station was built in the park. A band shell was also built, but it is no longer there. In 1936, the Works Progress Administration built the Museum of Fine Arts, now called the Arkansas Arts Center, near the Tower Building.
The arsenal was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Because it was linked to the Camden Expedition of 1864, it might also be part of the Camden Expedition Sites National Historic Landmark. This landmark was created in 1994.
In 1942, the Tower Building was updated thanks to the Æsthetic Club and others. It became the new home for the Arkansas Museum of Natural History and Antiquities. The museum stayed there for about 55 years. The area around the building was first called Arsenal Park, then City Park. In 1942, it was finally named MacArthur Park to honor Douglas MacArthur.
In 1997, the Museum of Science and Natural History joined with the Little Rock Children's Museum. They formed the Arkansas Museum of Discovery and moved to a new location. The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History opened in the Tower Building on May 19, 2001. This museum teaches visitors about Arkansas's military past. It also works to protect the Tower Building and honor U.S. service members.
Building the Arsenal
The arsenal was built because Governor James S. Conway asked for it. People were worried about dangers on the frontier and possible fights with Native Americans. These groups were moving through Arkansas to new lands. Major Robert B. Lee of the U.S. Army chose 36 acres of land outside Little Rock. This land used to be a racetrack.
John Wormley Walker, a builder for the government, oversaw the construction. At first, $14,000 was set aside for the arsenal, but it wasn't enough. The budget was later increased to $30,000. Work on the Tower Building began in 1840. It was the first permanent building of the arsenal. It was built to store ammunition, so its outer walls were about 3 feet thick. The original plans called for stone, but masonry was used instead. The Arkansas Gazette newspaper called it "A splendid specimen of masonry."
The American Civil War and the Arsenal
For many years, the arsenal was just a storage place for weapons. Only a few soldiers worked there. But in November 1860, with the American Civil War about to begin, 65 soldiers were moved to Little Rock. They were led by Captain James Totten.
On January 15, 1861, the state government decided to let people vote on whether Arkansas should leave the United States. This vote was planned for February 18. However, things at the arsenal happened sooner. On January 28, Governor Henry M. Rector told Captain Totten that his soldiers could stay. But he said they could only stay until the state decided to separate from the U.S. government.
Captain Totten replied that his orders came from the U.S. Government. He quickly sent messages asking for more soldiers. Rumors spread that more troops were coming. A new telegraph line had just been finished between Little Rock and Memphis. A local lawyer, John M. Harrell, sent the first telegraph from Little Rock. He reported rumors that more federal troops were sent to the Little Rock Arsenal.
The message said that U.S. troops from the western frontier were sent to Fort Smith. Then, the Fort Smith soldiers were moved to the Little Rock Arsenal. The arsenal was said to have many military supplies. This message was meant as news, but it quickly spread. Some Arkansans thought it was a call from the governor to gather and remove the federal troops.
By February 5, six militia groups, with 1,000 men, had gathered in Little Rock. They said they could get 5,000 more men if needed. Governor Rector strongly denied ordering these troops to gather. But since the military had gathered thinking they were following his orders, he had to take control.
On February 6, Governor Rector formally demanded that Captain Totten surrender the arsenal. He said the people of Arkansas felt that the weapons should be controlled by the state. He also said he had to step in to prevent a fight between the people and the federal troops.
Captain Totten had no orders from his leaders. He agreed to surrender the arsenal if the governor agreed to three things:
- The governor would take the arsenal for the United States.
- The soldiers could leave safely with their personal and public items, except weapons.
- The soldiers would leave as if following orders, not as defeated soldiers.
On the morning of February 8, 1861, Rector and Totten signed the agreement. The arsenal was given to state officials. That afternoon, the citizen militia marched to the arsenal with Governor Rector. All federal troops had left, except Totten. He stayed to hear the governor's speech and hand over the arsenal in person.
In 1860, the Little Rock Arsenal was a "warehouse" for weapons. These weapons were for the state militia in times of trouble. There was no major work done there to make or fix weapons. Most of this work started from scratch after the state took over.
After the arsenal was seized in February 1861, the Confederates found many weapons. They had about 10,247 weapons, 250,000 musket cartridges, and 520,000 percussion caps. They also found four bronze cannons. About 9,600 of these weapons were ready to use. Only 1,364 were percussion weapons, which were more modern.
Many of the weapons were given to Arkansas regiments (groups of soldiers). For example, the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Arkansas Infantry Regiments received older flintlock muskets. By the time the 11th and 12th Arkansas Infantry Regiments formed, most of the good weapons were gone.
Most of the equipment from the Little Rock Arsenal was moved east of the Mississippi River in April and May 1862. It was likely destroyed during the Vicksburg campaign in 1863.
Major General Thomas C. Hindman took command of Arkansas in May 1862. He found the state had almost no military supplies. Hindman started another armory in Arkadelphia. He also reopened the Little Rock Arsenal. It became a place to collect weapons and make ammunition for small arms.
Hindman said that machines were made to produce percussion caps and small arms. They made a small amount, but it was good quality. Lead mines were opened. A chemical lab was set up to help with weapons and make medicines. Most of these operations were near Arkadelphia. He also got more supplies from citizens in Little Rock.
Ammunition was quickly prepared at the Little Rock Arsenal. Hindman noted that they had to use public documents from the State Library for cartridge paper because they had so little material. Gunsmiths were hired or forced to work. Tools were bought or taken. They started fixing damaged guns.
The Confederate weapons work at Little Rock restarted in August 1862. General Hindman asked Lieutenant John W. Dunnington to lead this work. Dunnington was in charge of all Confederate weapons activities there.
Dunnington's records for August 1862 show what was done. He said that when he took command, all materials had been moved to Arkadelphia. No one was working, and no shops were open to fix weapons or make ammunition. They had to get materials, tools, and hire workers. Work started at the end of the month.
The military force under Dunnington had four officers and 20 enlisted men. They also had civilian workers: a foreman, two clerks, three gunsmiths, a laboratorian, 26 laborers, and a carpenter.
In August 1862, they made one pair of musket bullet molds and 10,000 buck and ball cartridges. They repaired 750 muskets, shotguns, and rifles. They also received and repaired other military supplies.
Dunnington continued to build up the work until November 1862. Then, Captain Sanford C. Faulkner took charge of the Arsenal.
A summary for November 1862 shows more work. They made 75,000 percussion buck and ball cartridges and 14,000 flint buck and ball cartridges. They also made fuses and cannon shot. They repaired 2,236 shotguns and rifles and 23 pistols. They also repaired and painted four gun carriages.
The summaries show that "buck & ball" ammunition was common. This means that .69 caliber smoothbore guns and shotguns were still the main weapons. Also, about one-sixth of all small arms ammunition was for flintlock weapons. This shows that many Confederate troops still used older flintlock weapons.
The work at the Little Rock Arsenal continued at a similar pace until August 1863. A note for August 1863 says that almost all supplies were packed and sent to Arkadelphia. This marked the start of moving military activities out of Little Rock. The city was surrendered to Union troops on September 11, 1863.
In 1864, after Little Rock was taken by the Union Army, General Fredrick Steele marched 8,500 troops from the arsenal. This began the Camden Expedition.
Brooks-Baxter War Incident
In 1874, the arsenal was briefly taken over again. This happened during a political conflict called the Brooks–Baxter War.
Closing the Arsenal
In 1873, the arsenal was renamed Little Rock Barracks. The main building was used as living quarters for married officers. The inside and outside of the building were changed a lot. Before this, a back basement door was the only entrance. The tower was used to lift ammunition between floors. By 1868, front and back porches were added. Inside, new walls and stairs were built. Some of these are still there today, including the main staircase. In 1880, Douglas MacArthur was born on the upper northwest floor of this building. His father, U.S. Army Captain Arthur MacArthur, was stationed there.
In the 1880s, the U.S. government started closing many small arsenals. They preferred larger ones built near railroads for quick movement of supplies. The commander of the Little Rock arsenal was told it would close by October 1, 1890. On April 12, 1893, the Tower Building and other buildings were traded to Little Rock. In exchange, the city gave 1,000 acres of land in Big Rock Mountain. This land is now Fort Logan H. Roots in North Little Rock. The deal said the building and land must "forever exclusively devoted to the uses and purposes of a public park." All the original buildings around the Tower Building were torn down.
The Æsthetic Club's Role
In 1894, the Little Rock Æsthetic Club moved into the Tower Building. This club is one of the oldest women's societies west of the Mississippi River. They needed a bigger, more permanent place to meet. The year before, club members helped raise money for the Arkansas Building at The Chicago World's Fair. After the fair, items from the exhibit were shown in the Tower Building. The Æsthetic Club was invited to meet in the "Columbian Room."
Except for the club's meetings, the Tower Building was mostly empty for almost 50 years. It started to fall apart. The Æsthetic Club gave much-needed money during this time. They even paid the electric bill during the Great Depression. The Æsthetic Club still has its main office in the Tower Building today.
The MacArthur Museum
The MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History is located in the Tower Building. It is named for General Douglas MacArthur, who was born there when it was military barracks. The museum opened in May 2001. By 2018, over 500,000 people had visited it.
The Little Rock Department of Parks and Recreation runs the museum. It shares stories of Arkansas soldiers from the Civil War through the Vietnam War. It uses artifacts, photos, weapons, and other items. One of its galleries focuses on the Battle of Little Rock.
See also
- Battle of Bayou Fourche
- Capital Guards Memorial
- David O. Dodd
- Old State House Museum
