Oct 28, 2022 2 min read

On Friday, the Senator John Heinz History Center will host a book talk, “History’s Mysteries: The Allegheny Arsenal Explosion,” with History Center president and CEO and authors Tom Powers and James Pudarczyk of the Lawrenceville Historical Society.

The event will commemorate the 160th anniversary of the mysterious explosion that claimed 78 civilian lives. Located in Lawrenceville, the Arsenal employed more than 1,100 workers who helped manufacture harnesses, assemble small weapons, and fill musket cartridges for the Union Army. But something went wrong as workers carried out their daily routine on Sept. 17, 1862 – a series of massive explosions erupted near the Arsenal’s primary laboratory, destroying the building and surrounding structures and killing 78 civilians instantly, mostly young women and girls. To this day, the cause of the Allegheny Arsenal explosion remains undetermined.

As part of the History Center’s book talk, Masich, Powers and Wudarczyk will reveal new findings, including maps, photographs, and illustrations featured in “The Allegheny Arsenal Handbook,” the book by Powers and Wudarczyk. Masich will also discuss the whereabouts and new details of Civil War-era cannonballs recently found at the site of the Arsenal.

A book signing will follow the discussion, which will start at 6:30 p.m. For tickets or additional information, go online to heinzhistorycenter.org.