Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal
U.S. government (War Department), Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
The Harpers Ferry Armory was the second U.S. national armory, chosen by George Washington and producing muskets and rifles from 1802. Over about 60 years it made more than 600,000 military rifles and muskets. It was the target of John Brown's 1859 raid and was burned in 1861; the surviving fire engine house, known as John Brown's Fort, stands in the national historical park.
- Company
- U.S. government (War Department)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1802
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Aerospace and defense
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Military muskets and rifles, and pistols after 1805, for the U.S. Army (now a historic site in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park).
Facts
| Origins | President George Washington selected Harpers Ferry as the second national armory after Springfield; the government bought the 125-acre site in 1796, construction began in 1799 and full-scale arms production began in 1802 (federal: nps.gov) |
|---|---|
| Output | By 1810 annual production averaged about 10,000 arms; over roughly 60 years the armory produced more than 600,000 military rifles and muskets (federal: nps.gov) |
| Workforce | 25 men in 1802 and about 400 by 1859 (federal: nps.gov) |
| John Brown's raid | In October 1859 John Brown's raid targeted the armory's weapons; he was captured in the fire engine house by U.S. Marines commanded by Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee (federal: nps.gov) |
| Destruction | On April 18, 1861 U.S. troops set fire to the armory and arsenal buildings; by the war's end only the fire engine house (John Brown's Fort) remained intact (federal: nps.gov) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
Armory grounds and John Brown's Fort are part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (nps.gov) Check the operator's site before you go.
Sources
- NPS: Harpers Ferry Armory and Arsenal (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
- NPS: Armory Grounds (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
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