General Information for Arsenal Park
Address: 276 39th St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Hours: Dusk til Dawn
Website: pittsburghparks.org/community-parks
Admission: Free
Transportation: Bus, car (street parking), and walking
Access: Paved pathways
About the Arsenal Park
Nestled in the middle of the 39th and 40th street block in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville sits Arsenal Park. The park sits in the center of what used to be the property of the Allegheny Arsenal. The Allegheny Arsenal was built in 1814, and played a crucial role in the success of the Union during the Civil War. Women and young children of Irish-Catholic descent predominantly worked at the arsenal filling cartridges, making harnesses, and handling live gunpowder. It was here that over 128,000 bullets were manufactured per day!
Although the Allegheny Arsenal provided ample amounts of ammunition and jobs to local immigrants, an unfortunate event occurred, forever leaving a mark on Lawrenceville. On September 17 of 1862, gunpowder was said to ignite due to a spark from a donkey's shoes hitting the new stone road outside of the arsenal. Windows were blown out of the frames and chaos erupted. This tragically caused a huge explosion and a large portion of the arsenal was blown up. Lawrenceville lost 78 lives on that day, some of whom were children. It was the worst civilian disaster of the Civil War, but is often overshadowed as it occurred on the same day as the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in United States history.
In the 156 years since the tragic events at the Allegheny Arsenal, the 39th and 40th street block has transformed. Arsenal Park is a local attraction for dog walkers with its winding paths, for children and families with its playground and grass, and for athletes with its tennis courts and baseball fields. In the middle of the park lies the powder house, where gunpowder for use in the arsenal was kept, as a reminder of the park's past. Situated right below Arsenal Park, sits Arsenal Middle and Elementary School, and situated above the park is the Frank B. Clack Health Center of the Allegheny Health Department.
The park is soon to be renovated to better incorporate the rich history of the park and Lawrenceville. New amenities include a performance area for local events, an improved playscape and water spraying feature for children, and a improved reflection pond and memorial to the explosion of 1862. As of now, there is no date for the completed renovation.
Past to Future – Arsenal Park in Transition
Located in the middle of the neighborhood of Lawrenceville, Arsenal Park has a rich history, an attractive present, and a promising future. Once home to the Allegheny Arsenal from which it gets its name, the park offers its neighborhood paths to walk and run on, green spaces to relax in and escape from the concrete oppression of the city, and many other forms of activity for visitors. However, as visitors walk across the empty reflection pond with the powder house at its side, they may not realize they are on the site of a tragic event which urban planners from Pittsburgh Parks
Factory Life to an Accessible Swing: A Change in Perception
Children are an important aspect in many societies. In fact, they are highly valued. In the United States today, children are seen as the future. Their innocence and young demeanor leave them with much needed guidance, nourishment, and assistance.
Strikes, Bullets, and Presidential Visits: Arsenal Park’s Strange History
Arsenal Park is a beautiful place today. When you first walk in, there you see this massive green space in the middle of a city. It’s a lovely place to walk around. Perhaps you even bring your dog with you. Maybe you see the sign from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission that tells you that this is the site of the old Allegheny Arsenal. Maybe you are more knowledgeable about this site and have heard about the tragedy during the Civil War. But do you know all of this site’s history?
The Transformation of the Arsenal: How Do We Teach its History?
The 37 acre block between 39th Street and 40th Street in Lawrenceville has been home to several different places over 204 years, but one thing has never changed: "children have been on this city block since 1812" (Paine). One of the greatest attributes of the block is the opportunity to teach its long history and United States history through interaction with the park and surrounding space. The block was first home to the Allegheny Arsenal from 1814 to 1906.