- Frankford Arsenal
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name = Frankford Arsenal
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caption = Aerial view to the northeast (1978)
location = Tacony and Bridge Sts.Philadelphia ,Pennsylvania , USA
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built = 1816
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added =March 16 ,1972
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refnum = 72001153cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
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governing_body = PrivateThe Frankford Arsenal was aUnited States Army ammunition plant located in the Bridesburg section of NortheastPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania , adjacent to the original course ofFrankford Creek .History
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 theConfederate States Army in deference to the wishes of hisAlabama -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 andartillery pieces, a depot for the repair of artillery,cavalry andinfantry equipment, repair and cleaning of small arms and harnesses, the manufacture of percussion powder andMinié ball s, and the testing of new forms ofgunpowder and time fuses. During theGettysburg Campaign , the arsenal provided tens of thousands ofmusket s and vast supplies of ammunition forPennsylvania 's "Emergency Militia" regiments. Among the innovations extensively tested at the Arsenal was theGatling Gun , an early form ofmachine gun that saw extensive service in theIndian Wars .During
World War I andWorld 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 theDelaware River . The southernmost part is currently being used as a light-industrial and office park.Munition markings
Each round of ammunition was marked with the
headstamp "F A" on its base, denoting that it was produced at the Frankford Arsenal.Early metallic cartridges produced at Frankford were not headstamped. These were 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 headstamp, such as "8 11" or "2 12", indication August, 1911 and Feb. 1912.
Notes
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.External links
* [http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/king/k36d.jpgPhotograph of Frankford Arsenal, c. 1900]
* [http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/114475 Listing and images] at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.