Picatinny Arsenal, 500 Area, Powder Factory & Power House, State Route 15 near I-80, Dover, Morris County, NJ

Significance: Originally built as a depot for storage of powder and other armaments, during the 20th century Picatinny Arsenal became a leading facility for the research, development and production of munitions. The buildings in the 500 Area were used for the production of explosive powder and involved the use of hazardous chemicals, the creation of dangerous compounds and the disposal of toxic wastes. As a result, the buildings of the powder factory are considered to be highly contaminated. Because cleanup costs are considered to be prohibitive, as of 1983 the burning of many 500 Area buildings has begun.

Survey number: HAER NJ-36-C

Building/structure dates: after 1900 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 19h1 Subsequent Work

arsenals power plants ammunition industry manufacturing explosions fires storage textile industry chemistry testing research dover picatinny powder factory powder factory power house state route morris county new jersey energy generation historic american engineering record photo picatinny arsenal manufacturing plants library of congress

1900

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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