Rock Island Arsenal

  • Also Known As: Rock Island Arsenal Rodman Plan--Old Stone Buildings also Arsenal

  • Address: Rock Island Ave
  • Vicinity: Rock Island in the Mississippi River
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Historic District

The Rock Island Arsenal's proposed National Historic Landmark district is situated on a 948 acre island in the upper Mississippi River between the cities of Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa. From 1862 to the present, the island has been the constant site of the Rock Island Arsenal.

The Rock Island Arsenal's proposed historic landmark district derives its significance largely from the General Thomas J Rodman planned and inspired Old Stone Buildings. These buildings represented one of the largest military construction projects of the late nineteenth century. After assuming command of the Rock Island Arsenal in 1865, Brevet Brigadier General Thomas J Rodman devised a master plan for the installation that called for the construction of ten large manufacturing shops supplemented by a variety of ancillary buildings. Under General Rodman's plan, the arsenal's main industrial site was transferred to the high ground at the center of the island. Also, the north central shore of the island was set aside for a staff residential area. Surviving in highly intact condition, the buildings make a cohesive architectural statement that, in terms of both their scale and style have no counterpart among government installations in the Midwest. In addition to their architectural importance, the Rodman plan - Old Stone Buildings are the administrative and technological core of the Rock Island Arsenal. These buildings are vital for understanding the history of American ordnance development and production from the Spanish-American War to the present. Because of their architectural, historical, and/or technological merit, the Rodman plan buildings are classified by the US Army as category I historic properties. - NRHP, 20 June 1988


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1865/08/00 Thomas J Rodman Military General Thomas J Rodman assumes command of the Rock Island Arsenal
1918/00/00 Pierre L R Hogner Military Pierre Hogner joins the US Army. First Lt Hogner is placed in charge of construction and maintenance at Rock Island Arsenal. Later, he will be transferred to Washington, DC, as Assistant Constructing Quartermaster under the Construction Division.

Data »

Particulars for Rock Island Arsenal:
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Historic Use Arms storage
Historic Use Battle site
Cultural Affiliation Black Hawk
Historic Use Cemetery
Area of Significance Engineering
Area of Significance Exploration-settlement
Owner Federal
Structure Type Fortification
Architectural Style Greek Revival
Area of Significance Historic - aboriginal
Sight Category Historic District
Criteria Historic Event
Area of Significance Industry
Criteria Information Potential
Area of Significance Invention
Architectural Style Italianate
Area of Significance Military
Historic Use Military facility
Level of Significance National
Cultural Affiliation Native American
Criteria Person
Area of Significance Prehistoric
Area of Significance Railroad
Area of Significance Science
Area of Significance Transportation



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 69000057
Resource Type:
Owner: Federal
Architect: Rodman,General Thomas J.; et al.
Architectural Style: Greek revival, Italianate
Other Certification: Designated National Landmark
Nominator Name: National Historic Landmark
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: National; Local
Area of Significance: Historic - aboriginal, Industry, Prehistoric, Military, Engineering, Transportation, Exploration-settlement, Science, Invention
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering, Person, Information Potential
Criteria Consideration: Cemetery, Significance of less than fifty years
Cultural Affiliation: Native American, Black Hawk
Period of Significance: 1499-1000 AD, 1900-1924, 1875-1899, 1850-1874, 1800-1824, 1825-1849
Significant Year: 1832, 1833, 1862
Associated People: Lincoln,Abraham,et al.
Historic Function: Transportation, Defense, Funerary
Historic Sub-Function: Military facility, Cemetery, Fortification, Rail-related, Arms storage, Battle site
Current Function: Recreation and Culture, Transportation, Defense, Funerary
Current Sub-Function: Cemetery Military facility Museum Rail-related Arms storage

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