Middlesex Township in Carlisle in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Carlisle Forge
The Forge at Washingtonburg
This building is a representation of the forge that stood at Washingtonburg, site of present day Carlisle Barracks, during the American Revolution. Our working forge features a replica of a bellows that is purported to be the original bellows of the Carlisle Forge, part of AHEC's artifact collection.
The original forge was part of the "Public Works at Carlisle," a government arsenal authorized by the Continental Congress in December 1776 to provide the Continental Army with much needed arms, ammunition and other supplies. The forge was used to create and repair weapons for the Army.
General George Washington directed Colonel Benjamin Flower to establish the arsenal at Carlisle in January 1777. Flower was ordered to "…erect or provide such buildings as shall be necessary for carrying on the preparation of fixed ammunitions of every specie. An air furnace to be erected there to hold three thousand weights of fluxed metal. A mill for the purpose of boring cannon, etc. after they are cast. Shops sufficient for forty carpenters, forty blacksmiths, and twenty wheelwrights. Turners, tinmen, in proportion to the demand the laboratory shall have for them. Also twelve harness makers to make sparce harness single and double."
General George Washington, January 1777
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Revolutionary. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1777.
Location. 40° 12.263′ N, 77° 9.543′ W. Marker is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County. It is in Middlesex Township. Marker is on Army Heritage Trail south of Soldiers Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Army Heritage Trail, Carlisle PA 17013, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A Medal of Honor at Bear Paw Mountain (a few steps from this marker); Drummer Jarvis Hanks (within shouting distance of this marker); A Century of Protection (within shouting distance of this marker); A Soldier Story (within shouting distance of this marker); General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion (within shouting distance of this marker); Colonel Robert W. Black (within shouting distance of this marker); Lieutenant Colonel William Orlando Darby (within shouting distance of this marker); Obstacle Course (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carlisle.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 4 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 2, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
