Seminary Hill in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Powder Magazine and Filling Room
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
| | City of Alexandria, Virginia | |
Ammunition for the fort's guns' was kept in underground storage facilities called magazines and filling rooms. Shells were armed and sometimes stored in the filling room, while the magazine was used to hold black powder and created rounds. Implements for firing the cannons could also be kept in the filling room.
Duty in either the filling room or the magazine was hazardous as the slightest spark could ignite the highly explosive black powder. Soldiers assigned to this task were required to remove all metal from their persons and to wear protective coverings on their shoes.
Erected by City of Alexandria, Virginia.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia, The City of Alexandria series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. 38° 49.839′ N, 77° 6.147′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Seminary Hill. It can be reached from West Braddock Road east of North Howard Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address:
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Northwest Bastion (a few steps from this marker); Profile of the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Ward (within shouting distance of this marker); From Fort to Community (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackson Cemetery Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Jackson Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Bombproof (within shouting distance
Other markers no longer nearby. Powder Magazine and Filling Room (has been replaced with this marker); a different marker also named Northwest Bastion (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Profile of Fort (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Fort Ward (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Bombproof (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 131 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
