CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — The Hessian Powder Magazine is believed to be the oldest standing structure in the United States Army after standing in the Carlisle Barracks for nearly 250 years.
And to prove that theory, researchers from the Army Heritage and Education Center brought in some outside help.
Students from Juniata College joined officials from the National Park Service Historical Preservation Training Center for a historical archaeological project.
Curator Jack Leighow at AHEC says it’s part of a historic structures report on the Hessian Powder Magazine built in 1777.
“When you think about what was here, some of the records we looked at, the operation here was massive,” said Leighow.
The structure was used to store gunpowder and other materials the U.S. Army used to win the Revolutionary War.
Today, it stands as a museum.
It’s already one of America’s oldest military structures and now researchers hope to classify it as the oldest in army history.
“We look at the evolution of the building over time, the chronology of how it changed, how that change fits into the greater context of what’s happening around us,” said Becky Cybularz, historic architect for the National Park Service.
Undergrads from Juniata College Cultural Research Institute were contracted to do below-ground archaeology.
“They’re turning up musket balls within a few inches of the surface, so it’s such a pristine situation and we’re just honored to be part of it and I’m sure these students are as well,” said Johnathan Burns, Professor and Director of Cultural Research Institute at Juniata.
“The fact that they’re exposing architectural elements while we can be here and accessible to see them… that’s mind-blowing and incredible,” Cybularz said.
Each team’s findings are expected to be published in a year.
AHEC is expected to present its findings in June 2025 in celebration of the army’s 250th birthday.