Powder Magazine
United States historic place in Charleston, South Carolina. Built 1713. Added to the National Register in 1972, and a National Historic Landmark.
What it is
The Powder Magazine is a gunpowder magazine and museum at 79 Cumberland Street in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Completed in 1713, it is the oldest surviving public building in the former Province of Carolina. It was used as a gunpowder store through the American Revolutionary War, and later saw other uses. The Powder Magazine was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989. It has been operated as a museum by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America since the early 1900s. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 79 Cumberland St., Charleston, SC |
| County | Charleston County |
| Listed | Jan 5, 1972 |
| Listed for | Military, Architecture, Exploration and settlement, Politics and government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | See Also: Charleston Historic District |
| Reference number | 72001200 |
| Built | 1713 · more from the 1710s |
| Type of place | gunpowder magazine, museum |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building, 2 objects |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 79 Cumberland St., Charleston, SC |
| Coordinates | 32.7793° N, 79.9304° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Charleston | 111 listed places in Charleston → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park · 4 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Buck Hall Recreation Area 28 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 3 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Charleston County
Local history books for Charleston
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
The Huguenot Church in CharlestonMargaret Middleton Rivers Eastman and Richard Donohoe & Maurice Eugenie Horne Thompson, 2018Find at Bookshop.org
St. Philip's Church of CharlestonDorothy Middleton Anderson and Margaret Middleton Rivers Eastman, 2015Find at Bookshop.org
Guidebooks to historic places in South Carolina
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Powder Magazine listed on the National Register?
Jan 5, 1972. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Powder Magazine built?
1713.
Source: Wikidata
Can I visit Powder Magazine?
Yes. Powder Magazine is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Powder Magazine?
79 Cumberland St., Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina. The nearest national park unit is Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, 4 miles away.
Source: Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
What does the Powder Magazine listing include?
The listing counts 3 contributing resources. Those are 1 building and 2 objects. A contributing resource is a part of the listed property that carries its historic significance.
Source: National Park Service
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Powder Magazine?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Powder Magazine?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Powder Magazine?
One federal campground is within reach, Buck Hall Recreation Area, 28 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Powder Magazine?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is there a wildfire near Powder Magazine right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest C-74 Fm Rx, 30 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 72001200. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.