Workshops at Washington Arsenal 1858 - 1859

This photograph of workshops at the Washington Arsenal was taken by Lewis Emory Walker sometime in the mid-19th century. It shows the stark architecture of the arsenal buildings contrasted with the everyday presence of people outside. During the Civil War, the Washington Arsenal became a significant site for wartime production, but also for a different kind of making. It was here that the Lincoln assassination conspirators, including Mary Surratt, were tried and executed. Walker's photograph invites us to reflect on the complex layers of history embedded in this location. It makes visible the intersections of labor, law, and punishment during a period of intense social and political upheaval. The image captures a moment of apparent calm, yet it speaks volumes about a nation grappling with questions of justice, loyalty, and the human cost of conflict. It prompts us to consider the stories of those who lived and worked in the shadow of these monumental events.