Jefferson Ordnance Magazine
Encyclopedia
The Jefferson Ordnance Magazine in Jefferson, Texas
, United States, is located 0.3 miles northeast of the US-59B crossing of Big Cypress Bayou. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1995.
It is located across the Big Cypress Bayou waterway from Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
. It is claimed by the railway operators and tour guides to be the only remaining Confederate
powder magazine from the 1860s. That claim, appearing at this website advertising a train tour, appears to be false, as it does not take into account powder magazines that are included in surviving confederate forts. A specific counter-example to the claim is the Confederate Powderworks
, in Georgia, whose powder magazines disprove the claim.
A narrower claim, that it is the only surviving Confederate powder house in Texas and one of few in the U.S., is stated by the Historic Jefferson Foundation. An even more narrow claim, that it is "the most intact example in East Texas of a Civil War era brick ordnance magazine directly associated with the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederate States of America," appears in a planning document prepared by the Texas Historical Commission.
The magazine was built in late 1863 or early 1864. "Ninety percent of the building is original and remains unaltered except for some weathering, aging brick and some sympathetic repairs." However, two smaller associated buildings have been dismantled, apparently for their bricks.
Because the Ordnance Magazine is located on private property, today it can only be viewed by riding the Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
, or taking the Turning Basin Riverboat Tour, both of which are attractions in Jefferson, Texas.
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
, United States, is located 0.3 miles northeast of the US-59B crossing of Big Cypress Bayou. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1995.
It is located across the Big Cypress Bayou waterway from Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
The Historic Jefferson Railway is a narrow gauge railroad in Jefferson, Texas. It is an insular line that follows the Big Cypress Bayou for approximately three miles. The line is a dog bone way out with loops on each end, joined by a single main track.Privately owned and operated, by DBR...
. It is claimed by the railway operators and tour guides to be the only remaining Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
powder magazine from the 1860s. That claim, appearing at this website advertising a train tour, appears to be false, as it does not take into account powder magazines that are included in surviving confederate forts. A specific counter-example to the claim is the Confederate Powderworks
Confederate Powderworks
The Confederate Powderworks was a gunpowder factory during the American Civil War, the only permanent structures completed by the Confederate States of America. Colonel G.W...
, in Georgia, whose powder magazines disprove the claim.
A narrower claim, that it is the only surviving Confederate powder house in Texas and one of few in the U.S., is stated by the Historic Jefferson Foundation. An even more narrow claim, that it is "the most intact example in East Texas of a Civil War era brick ordnance magazine directly associated with the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederate States of America," appears in a planning document prepared by the Texas Historical Commission.
The magazine was built in late 1863 or early 1864. "Ninety percent of the building is original and remains unaltered except for some weathering, aging brick and some sympathetic repairs." However, two smaller associated buildings have been dismantled, apparently for their bricks.
Because the Ordnance Magazine is located on private property, today it can only be viewed by riding the Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
Jefferson and Cypress Bayou Railway
The Historic Jefferson Railway is a narrow gauge railroad in Jefferson, Texas. It is an insular line that follows the Big Cypress Bayou for approximately three miles. The line is a dog bone way out with loops on each end, joined by a single main track.Privately owned and operated, by DBR...
, or taking the Turning Basin Riverboat Tour, both of which are attractions in Jefferson, Texas.