Existing comment:
The Kentucky State Arsenal:
Peeling Away the Past:
Historians and curators at the Kentucky Historical Society are uncovering the hidden past of the State Arsenal through various methods. Research in official records, manuscripts, and newspapers is yielding new historical insights. Analyses of the physical structure have revealed the building's transformation. These discoveries are guiding historic preservation and other decisions that will shape the appearance and use of the arsenal for years to come.
The Kentucky State Arsenal:
A Strategic Location:
An explosion and fire in 1836 destroyed a previous arsenal. For public safety reasons, the state legislature mandated that munitions and gunpowder storage be located away from the state capitol, local residences, and commercial district. A bluff above the Kentucky River -- now known as Arsenal Hill -- provided the ideal site for a new state arsenal. The location, at the crossroads of river, rail, and roadway transportation routes, was critical for distribution of goods and supplies into and out of Kentucky. A railroad tunnel blasted out of the bedrock beneath the hill in 1848 cleared the way for interstate train travel for troops, supplies, and munitions. |