Built between 1847 and 1851 as a storage facility for munitions, the Arsenal predates the park and is the second-oldest structure within its grounds—the oldest structure is Blockhouse No. 1. Between 1869 and 1877 it was the early home of the American Museum of Natural History, and is now the headquarters of the Parks and Recreation Department. An upstairs gallery has changing exhibits relating to park and natural-environmental design. Olmsted and Vaux's original plan for Central Park is in a display case on the third floor.
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