The New Guardhouse was built in 1823 and was the main guardhouse of the fortress. It replaced the old guardhouse, which had been completely destroyed during the bombardment of 1813. In 1850, it was extended by a jamb storey to provide more accommodation. From 1925, the Neue Wache served as a police prison until it was converted into a sports hall in 1965. After a thorough renovation in 1994, it is now used as an archive building for the Thuringian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments and Archaeology.