Locust Point Industrial Area in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Ravelin Magazine
Near the end of the Civil War, several large cannon were mounted on the ravelin above, and in the adjacent water battery. The commanding officer ordered that 1,000 rounds of ammunition be kept nearby for each gun. In 1866, this magazine and two others were built to safely store the additional gunpowder.
The covered entrance with its angled stairway was designed to prevent enemy projectiles from reaching the explosives. Three feet (1m) of concrete and up to 16 feet (5m) of earth were laid over the arched brick vault.
In addition to the underground magazines, there ware two above-ground brick magazines at Fort McHenry — one inside the star fort, and one 250 yards (225m) to the west.
[Caption:]
Gunners took care to keep their powder dry and away from flames. Powder kegs were probably stored on wooden racks where they could be periodically rotated to prevent caking. Ferrous metal objects which could produce sparks were prohibited in the magazine.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War of 1812. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Fort McHenry series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.
Location.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Civil War Guardhouse (a few steps from this marker); 1814 Enlisted Men's Barracks, No 2 (a few steps from this marker); Bombproofs (a few steps from this marker); In Full Glory Reflected (a few steps from this marker); Fort McHenry (within shouting distance of this marker); A Star Spangled Centennial (within shouting distance of this marker); Dawn's Early Light (within shouting distance of this marker); Mortars vs. Guns (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 17, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
