Jefferson Ordnance Magazine
Also known as: Jefferson Powder Magazine; 41mr44
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Beside Big Cypress Bayou outside Jefferson, Texas, a small brick building survives from the Civil War. Ten feet square and about 14.5 feet tall, it has a shed roof, a single door, and two small openings in its loft. Hollow spaces inside the walls connect to vents, keeping the bricks dry and the interior temperature steady while offering better security than ground-floor windows. Built probably in late 1863 or early 1864, it stored powder and munitions for the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department, whose supplies moved between Tyler, Marshall, Shreveport and Jefferson's water route. Two similar brick buildings once stood nearby but were dismantled in the early twentieth century, leaving this one as the only known surviving ordnance building of that network in East Texas. The surrounding land remains undeveloped. Repairs in 1992 replaced some wood elements with reversible, conjectural pieces. Its military role and its construction details are the basis for its recognition.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be the only surviving building of the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department's East Texas ordnance transport and storage network, which linked Tyler and Marshall to Shreveport via Jefferson's water access. It is also described as the most intact Civil War brick ordnance magazine in East Texas. Its vented hollow-wall design and brickwork may yield information on munitions storage construction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000102, listed February 17, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.3 mi. NE of US 59B crossing of Big Cypress Bayou, Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Marion County |
| Listed | February 17, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000102 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1863-1865 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER/vernacular/military powder magazine |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and not in use. Stabilization, repair and partial restoration were completed in fall 1992, and more than 90 percent of the brick walls are original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.75831, -94.33843 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000102.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6175548
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.