Old Ordnance Room Museum

345 North Road
Jefferson Barracks Park
St. Louis   63125

314-615-5000

Free admission. Free parking in parking lot. 

https://stlouiscountymo.gov/st-louis-county-departments/parks/places/jefferson-barracks-park/

Opened in maybe 1950's. 

The Old Ordnance Room was built in 1851 and houses temporary exhibits on military themes. 

Like the Powder Museum, the building was built with thick limestone walls, wooden floors, and an arched ceiling for safety reasons in case there was an explosion. It also has glassed cases that cause reflection when photographing! 

This museum has rotating exhibits.  The current exhibit, Story of Missourians at War,  is on display for ten months. A walk through the museum gives you a chronological view of the role Missourians have played in the military for over 200 years.  

The mounted rangers date back to before Missouri was a state. 

The early soldier's life included blankets and clothing, canvas "half gaiters", forage cap, wooden bowl and eating spoon, tin cup, pocket knife, and a backpack. 

The uniform of the early soldier including during the War of 1812 battle in Missouri, included shako military hat with brim and plume, wool coatee with linen shirt and leather neck stock, linen fall front trousers, and shoes.  And a leather cartridge box and sling and the bayonet. 

A Missouri militiaman (1810-1840) in a straw "planters" hat, simple shirt and cravat, a gray woolen vest, a linen hunting smock, linen trousers, moccasins, a bag for carrying food and necessities, and a 1803 pattern rifle. 

First regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers (1836-1847) 

Union Infantryman (1861-1865) in a greatcoat, trousers, black leather waist belt, "Brogan" low quarter marching shoes, cartridge box and sling, cap box and bayonet, M1842 smoothbore musket. 

1St Missouri Volunteer Engineers in Union Army: Officer's leather haversack 

Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Confederate Army of Tennessee, wearing wide-brimmed slouch hat, common wool shell jacket, gray wool trousers, leather "Brogan" style shoes, linen haversack and canteen, infantry equipment, and musket. 

Soldier's Equipment during the Civil War era included two separate carriers to carry ammunition: the cartridge box on the right and the cap box, or pouch on the left below. 

Missouri in the Spanish-American War: 1889 pattern campaign hat, 1883 pattern blue flannel pull over shirt, 1894 pattern Mills belt, canteen, and a Colt double-action revolver. 

National Guard in early 1900's: Khaki Mills cartridge belt. 

National Guard on the Mexican Border, 1916-1917: campaign hat and shirt

Doughboy, 1917-1918, World War I

Missouri National Guard

The Viet Nam War, U.S. Marine Corps

Uniforms of Missouri sailor who had a navy and a Marine Corps uniform.

The museum has several posters on Missouri soldiers of note, including this one on Nathan Boone, son of Daniel. 

The grounds around the building and inside the stone wall have beautiful gardens cared for by volunteers. 

In the gardens is a marker donated in 2004 that designates the area as a Blue Star Memorial By-Way.  This designation, used in parks and historical grounds, commemorates soldiers who served overseas. 

Comments:  This museum was well-organized and in good condition.  

The volunteer was friendly and helpful.