From the Camel Corps to the World Wars: The Historic Benicia Arsenal

Early Days at Benicia

Next to Suisun Bay in Benicia, California, the Benicia Arsenal (1849–1964) and  was part of a large military reservation that included the Benicia Barracks (1852–66), a rail spur, and ship-loading docks. The arsenal was the largest U.S. Army Ordnance plant for the United States West Coast for over 100 years.

Location from Google Maps

A 252-acre plot of land adjacent to the east of the Benicia city limits was purchased in 1847 for a military reserve. On 9 April 1849, two companies of the 2nd Infantry Regiment set up camp to construct Benicia Barracks, which also housed the 3rd Artillery Regiment. The first Ordnance Supply Depot in the West was built in Benicia in 1851, after the urging of General Persifor F. Smith. It was named the Benicia Arsenal in 1852. Notable Americans who were towork at the Arsenal, or pass through, include Generals John Charles Fremont, Ulysses S. Grant, William Tecumseh Sherman, and John J. Pershing, and the writer Stephen Vincent Benet.

Best Guess—The Arsenal, Early 20th Century

The Benicia Arsenal is also famous for stabling one of the squadrons of the Camel Corps of the Army. In 1863, the short-lived Camel Corps was disbanded, but the Camel Barns, established in 1855, remain as the Historical Museum of Benicia.

Yes, Indeed, Thanks to Secretary of War Jefferson Davis,
the U.S. Army Once Had a Camel Corps

During the Civil War, the Benicia Arsenal was a staging area for Union forces in the West, and the facility remained a garrisoned post until 1898, during the Spanish-American War when troops were assigned to duty in the Philippines. Colden Ruggles, who later served as the Army’s Chief of Ordnance, commanded the arsenal from 1911 to 1913. The Benicia Arsenal provided ordnance support to all major Army facilities in the Western States during World War I as well as providing ordnance to American expeditionary forces in Siberia during the First World War. During World War II, the Italian Military Units of the 4th and 50th Italian Quartermaster Service Companies served at the Arsenal. In the Second World War, complemented by the nearby equivalent naval installations at Mare Island and Port Chicago (until its famous disaster) played the major support role in the Pacific campaign.

Soldiers Loading Cartridges at Benicia

One hundred twenty-five separate truck convoys were loaded and dispatched from the Benicia Arsenal in the 24 hours following the Pearl Harbor bombing, leaving its stock of ammunition, small arms, and high explosives completely depleted. Throughout the war, the arsenal delivered guns, artillery, components, equipment, and instruments to ports. Furthermore, 14,343 pairs of binoculars were overhauled by the arsenal, 180,000 small items were produced for tanks and guns, and approximately 70,000 watches were repaired. The arsenal is most notable, however, for providing Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle with ammunition for the first bombing raid launched from the USS Hornet on Tokyo on April 18, 1942.

The Busy Loading Docks, August 1942

Before 1940, 85 civilian workers were hired by the arsenal; by October 1942, the payroll had reached 4,545. The labor shortage in 1944 compelled the arsenal commander, alongside 150 juveniles from the California Youth Authority, to put 250 Italian and 400 German prisoners of war to work. Almost half of the civilian population was composed of women. The number of civilians hit an all-time high of 6,700 laborers during the Korean War.

The Clocktower Building, Sort of a Combined
Fortification and Warehouse

After the Korean War, two freeways were built around and through the Arsenal and military activities gradually dropped off. The Arsenal was deactivated in 1964 and the Defense Department transferred ownership to the City of Benicia in 1965. Today, the City retains ownership of several of the most historically significant structures, including the Commanding Officer's Quarters, the Clocktower building, the "Camel Barns," and one of the original powder magazines. The Arsenal is now characterized by older historic buildings, as well as studios, small professional offices, commercial, and light industrial activities.

The Former Camel Barns

Four of the buildings—the Clocktower Fortress (1855), the Commanding Officer’s Quarters (1860), the Lieutenant’s Quarters (1861), and the Duplex Officers’ Quarters (1872)—line the ridge high above the Carquinez Strait. This row of buildings, along Jefferson Street, is the heart of the historic district and the nation’s most impressive ensemble of mid-19th century military architecture still largely intact as built over 150 years ago. Medal of Honor recipient John H. Foley is buried in the arsenal’s cemetery. The Benicia Arsenal Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Officers Had Exceptionally Nice Accommodations
This Was the "Lieutenants' Quarters"

Is It Worth a Visit?

I would say yes if you are living in the Bay Area or are passing through and  if you have an interest in 19th and early-20th century military architecture. The most striking buildings are divided by the areas with new tenants of all types, so it takes a little poking around to find the old army structures.  Some of the view you will stumble across are quite interesting. The site is right on the border of the Bay Area and the vastly different spaces of Northern California.

Sources:  The City of Benicia, YesBeniciaArsenal, California Military Museum and  the Benicia Arsenal Websites; Wikipedia, Library of Congress