in 1794, the united states congress passed a bill calling "for the erecting and repairing of arsenals and magazines". president george washington, given wide latitude in carrying out this order, selected harpers ferry, then a part of virginia, for the location of the harpers ferry national armory. in 1796, the united states government purchased a parcel of land from the heirs of robert harper. in 1799, construction began on the national armory. three years later, mass production of military arms started.