Pikesville Arsenal was a 19th-century United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 fortification near Pikesville, Maryland

Pikesville, Maryland

Pikesville is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Pikesville is just northwest of the Baltimore city limits. It is the northwestern suburb closest to Baltimore.The population was 29,123 at the 2000 census...

, under control of the Army Ordnance Department.
39.3752212°N 76.7224592°W

Origins

After War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

, the Army built Pikesville Arsenal at a safe point north of Baltimore, Maryland.

In 1853, Campbell Morfit

Campbell Morfit

Campbell Morfit was a distinguished chemist from the United States, co-editor with James Curtis Booth of the Encyclopedia of Chemistry ....

 established a laboratory at Pikesville Arsenal and investigated gun metal. Campbell Morfit and James Booth authored a book on the subject of gun metal for the Ordnance Department.

American Civil War

Confederates lived at Pikesville Arsenal during and after the American Civil War.

Decommissioning

The Army left Pikesville Arsenal in 1879. Confederate veterans lived at the former arsenal from 1888 until 1932.

State of Maryland acquired ownership of Pikesville Arsenal in 1935. The state headquartered Maryland State Police

Maryland State Police

The Maryland State Police is the official state police force of the state of Maryland. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP in unincorporated Baltimore County.-Organizational structure:...

at the former arsenal since 1950. The old facility now houses the Maryland State Police Museum.