Frankford Arsenal
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| Frankford Arsenal | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | Tacony and Bridge Sts. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Built/Founded: | 1816 |
| Added to NRHP: | March 16, 1972 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 72001153[1] |
| Governing body: | Private |
The Frankford Arsenal was a United States Army ammunition plant located in the Bridesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, adjacent to the original course of Frankford Creek.
Opened in 1816 on 8.1ha (20 acres) of land purchased by President James Madison, it was the center of U.S. military small-arms ammunition design and development until its closure in 1977. Among the many other products manufactured at the arsenal were fire-control and range-finding instruments, and gauges for these components.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, the arsenal's commander, Josiah Gorgas, resigned and joined the Confederate States Army in deference to the wishes of his Alabama-born wife. By the end of the war, the arsenal employed over 1,000 workers. It served as a major site for the storage of weapons and artillery pieces, a depot for the repair of artillery, cavalry and infantry equipment, repair and cleaning of small arms and harnesses, the manufacture of percussion powder and Minié balls, and the testing of new forms of gunpowder and time fuses. During the Gettysburg Campaign, the arsenal provided tens of thousands of muskets and vast supplies of ammunition for Pennsylvania's "Emergency Militia" regiments. Among the innovations extensively tested at the Arsenal was the Gatling Gun, an early form of machine gun that saw extensive service in the Indian Wars.
During World War I and World War II, the arsenal was again busy with supplying the war efforts, providing a major source of jobs and income for the region. At times, employment reached 22,000.
During the presidential campaign of 1976, vice presidential candidate Walter Mondale stood in front of the Frankford Arsenal and promised that it would remain open. The Carter/Mondale ticket won the election but the promise was not fulfilled; the arsenal closed for U.S. government use in 1977.
The northernmost part of the site was assumed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for use as a boat ramp access and fishing spot on the Delaware River. The southernmost part is currently being used as a light-industrial and office park.
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[edit] Munition markings
Each round of ammunition was marked with the stamp "F A" on its base, denoting that it was produced at the Frankford Arsenal.
Early metallic cartridges produced at Frankford were not headstamped. These either Martin or Benet primed copper cases. Early cartridges were stamped "F" for rifle ammunition, and "R F" for revolver ammunition. Ammunition produced prior to WW I were dated with the numerical month/year H/S, such as "8 11" or "2 12", indication August, 1911 and Feb. 1912.
[edit] Notes
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
[edit] References
- Farley, James J. Making Arms in the Machine Age: Philadelphia's Frankford Arsenal, 1816–1870. University Park, Penn.: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1994. ISBN 0271010002.
[edit] External links
- Photograph of Frankford Arsenal, c. 1900
- Listing and images at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
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