Rock Island Arsenal

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Rock Island Arsenal is still in operation. Here is a link to the .mil website:

USAG-RIA Home Page


There is a lot of manufacturing and overhaul capability there.

Interesting features include: Confederate POW cemetery, excellent small arms museum, the second largest residence in the US govt inventory, that being Quarters One. Largest residence is the White House.

Regarding Quarters One, it was built by Gen. Rodman. Seems he built himself a commanders quarters at Letterkinney. Congress thought it was too expensive and banished him to the western frontier. There he proceeded to build himself a larger house, Quarters One.

There are imported Italian marble fireplaces in each room on the 1st and 2nd floors. The brass and bronze decorative pieces such as door knobs, hinges, fireplace andirons...etc were cast at the arsenal using melted down cannon barrels and other GI hardware.

Rodman developed a water cooled casting process which increased the strength of the casting and reduced the risk of barrels bursting. Rodmans were enormous coastal defense guns. The largest had a 20 inch bore, range was 8.000 yards and the barrel weighed 115,000 lb.

Rodman gun - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you are in the area, the place is well worth a visit.

RIA was home to my brothers last command. I was fortunate to be a guest at Quarters One a few times.