Built 1829 Opened 1829 Added to NRHP 16 July 1970 | NRHP Reference # 70000577 Area 4,452 m² Architect Edward Brickell White | |
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Location 337 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina Similar Marion Square, Johnson Hagood Stadium, Embassy Suites - Charleston, Randolph Hall, Joseph P Riley Jr Park | ||
The South Carolina State Arsenal (also locally familiar as "The Old Citadel") in Charleston, South Carolina was built in 1829 after a planned 1822 slave revolt led by Denmark Vesey. In 1842 the South Carolina Military Academy, a liberal arts military college, was established by the state legislature, and the school took over the arsenal the following year. The school became known as The Citadel because of the appearance of its building. From 1865 to 1881, during Reconstruction in Charleston, Federal troops occupied the Citadel, and the school was closed. Classes resumed in 1882 and continued here until the school was relocated to a campus on the banks of the Ashley River in 1922.
Frederick Wesner and Edward Brickell White are credited with the Citadel's design. The original State Arsenal building was a two-story brick building around a courtyard, designed by Wesner. White was responsible for changes to the building about 1850, and added the third floor and wings. A fourth floor was added in 1910.
Charleston County used the building for government offices during much of the 20th century. In 1994 a local development firm renovated the building for use as a hotel.