The sketch at right shows the Apalachicola Arsenal as it appeared during the 1840s to the Comte de Castlenau, a visiting French nobleman.
Originally called the Mt. Vernon Arsenal, the name was changed to Apalachicola (after the river) due to confusion originating from the fact that there was also a Mt. Vernon Arsenal in Alabama.
As the sketch shows, the front of the arsenal was dominated by an imposing brick building and tower. This building no longer stands, having been demolished during the 1960s along with most of the connecting wall that is also visible in the sketch. The building at the far left, the officers' quarters, however, still stands and is used today as the Admininistration Building for the Florida State Hospital.
The sketch provides a great idea of how the arsenal appeared in January of 1861 when it was captured by militia troops from Quincy at the order of Governor Madison S. Perry of Florida.
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