At the corner of Katherine Street and Walton Way stands a reminder of Augusta's history as a federal military arsenal site.

At the edge of Augusta State University sits the guardhouse that once watched what was the main entrance to the Augusta Arsenal. It has been renovated and returned to its original appearance and will soon open as a museum showcasing artifacts of the Arsenal days.

"There will be displays on all the walls and a glass case filled with some of the artifacts found on campus," said Kathy Schofe, ASU's director of public relations and publications. "People will be able to take self-guided tours around the campus."

Selecting the artifacts to be displayed was a tough decision for Christopher Murphy, a professor of anthropology.

"We can only display an extremely small amount," Dr. Murphy said. "We'd actually like to display more stuff and be more complete, but people who work in museums that I've consulted say less is more."

Because Dr. Murphy's space is limited, he is coordinating items into three categories: domestic, military and medicines.

"One of the most interesting things - at least to me - is that this was an arsenal and we all know that, and they were making military stuff and we understand that, but it was also a place where people lived," Dr. Murphy said.

The Arsenal was originally built some miles away on the banks of the Savannah River. Health concerns arising from fever epidemics prompted a move to the Hill west of town.

Capt. Matthew M. Payne recommended that the Arsenal be moved to U.S. Sen. Freeman Walker's 72-acre Bellevue estate. Congress approved the $6,000 purchase in 1826. An acre was set aside as a cemetery for the Walker family. In 1957, the Arsenal became the home of Augusta State.

Now, the university is trying to preserve the history of the land on which it sits. It has recently added a brick history walk filled with historical monuments, including facts on the wars with Mexico and Korea and the Civil War.

"It's a beautiful campus, and it's really easy once you're on campus to imagine what it was like in the 1800s when the Arsenal was first built," Ms. Schofe said. "If you're interested in military history, you would want to visit the university."

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A BIT OF HISTORY

Here are some facts on Arsenal buildings and other landmarks at Augusta State:

Payne Hall: Originally a military storehouse and later a headquarters building; named after Capt. Matthew M. Payne

Bellevue Hall: Summer home of Sen. Freeman Walker; built in 1815 and is the only remaining structure that predates the Arsenal

Benet House: Designated as a National Historic Landmark; once the living quarters for Arsenal commandants; named in honor of Col. J. Walker Benet

Bell Tower: Houses the bell that was on the last steam locomotive used by the Georgia Railroad; situated between Bellevue Hall and Benet House

Boykin Wright Hall: Home of former Georgia Supreme Court Justice Boykin Wright; given to the university from Marguerite Wright Hillman in memory of her father

Rains Hall: Named in honor of Col. George Washington Rains, the second-in-command of the Arsenal; houses the university president, advancement and public relations and publications.

Butler Hall: Warehouse renamed in 1974 to honor George P. Butler, the university's first president; one of six buildings that will be demolished when University Hall is completed in 2004.

Quadrangle: Connects four buildings dating to 1828; housed a gun shed, a blacksmith's shop and an armorer's shop; features fountain, sundial and the President's Garden.

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