Historic Buildings & Museums
Laborers House, Ordnance Stable and Ordnance Barn
The Laborers House and Ordnance Stable were constructed in 1851. The house was built for the civilian laborers who constructed the buildings in the Ordnance section of Jefferson Barracks. Later it housed the ordnance keeper and his family. The Stable was built in 1851 to house four horses and two wagons that were used to haul munitions from the St. Louis Arsenal to the ordnance magazines at Jefferson Barracks. Both buildings are used today for special park events and are open to the public during that time.
The Ordnance Barn was originally built in 1878. The foundation was made of limestone from the same quarry as the other Ordnance Department buildings. Over time the building was used for various functions from a shooting range to a tank repair facility. During the Great Depression, it stored supplies for the Works Progress Administration. The original Ordnance Barn wooden structure was eventually reduced to just a stone basement and the current frame superstructure was built between 2000 to 2003 to serve as a Visitor Center for the park.
Old Ordnance Room
Erected in 1851 as part of the Ordnance Department, it served as the first permanent storage facility for gunpowder, ammunitions and other ordnance supplies for the soldiers at Jefferson Barracks and those stationed in the west.
It was constructed by Master Builder Francis Quinette of St. Louis with a cost just over $18,000. Some said that Quinette could not erect a quality building for that amount, but the building remains in use today. Its special design featured 4-foot thick walls built of locally quarried limestone that would control any outward explosions. A stone wall was also constructed around the exterior of the building to further control any possible damage. Inside features a vaulted ceiling and lofted floor designed to collapse inward rather than outward.
Today, the building is used as a museum presenting military-themed exhibits. The latest curation, "Between the Lines" will debut March 15, 2025, and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday from 12 pm to 4 pm. Admission is free and donations are always appreciated.
Powder Magazine
Constructed in 1857, the Powder Magazine also provided storage for ordnance supplies. Like the Ordnance Room, the Powder Magazine utilized limestone and was designed to diminish any explosion caused by the weapons stored inside. It's currently used as a museum with an ongoing presentation of the history of Jefferson Barracks from 1826 to present day. Admission is free and hours are the same as the Old Ordnance Room.