Rock Island Arsenal

From the Channel Cat Landing in Lindsay Park, look across the Mississippi River to Arsenal Island.

From 1863 to 1865, a prisoner of war camp stood directly across the river from you, on the northwestern portion of this large island. The camp housed 12,192 Confederate soldiers.

While the barracks and stockade that housed the prisoners were torn down promptly after the war, one building remains on the island from that time period: the clock tower building which was completed in 1863. What remains of the prison barracks is now the Confederate cemetery for those who died during the war.

Today, other historic sites on the island include a museum, a National Cemetery and more.

For much of the time period we discuss in this narrative, Arsenal Island was known simply as Rock Island.

However, to avoid confusion with today’s city of Rock Island, we will refer to the island by its modern name, Arsenal Island.

Today Rock Island Arsenal continues to be an active base and is the home of First Army and American Logistics. The installation is open to visitors through the Moline gate (you may exit through the Rock Island and Davenport
gates). A visitor’s pass can be obtained at the visitor center just outside the Moline gate. You must be able to present a valid ID and pass a criminal background check. This process takes only a few minutes. You can learn more about the access to the Island here.

Rock Island Arsenal Museum