Turtle Mountain Ordnance Plant, 213 First Street Northwest, Rolla, Rolette County, ND

Significance: The Turtle Mountain Ordnance Plant is significant as the only large-scale, diversified manufacturing facility for the production of jewel bearings in the United States. Jewel bearings were considered a product critical to American military needs during the early and middle years of the Cold War, and the Turtle Mountain plant was established through a federal-private partnership specifically to address this defense concern. Thus, the plant is also a significant reflection of American logistical responses to perceived Cold War security threats.

Survey number: HAER ND-10

Building/structure dates: 1953 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1954 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1957 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1966 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1988 Subsequent Work

factories metal buildings cold war ordnance industry manufacturing defense industry jewels engineering rolla turtle ordnance plant turtle mountain ordnance plant northwest first street northwest rolette rolette county north dakota bulova watch makers butler manufacturing company elgin national watch company john b hart historic american engineering record christiana jackson william langer microlap technologies inc renewable technologies emil schneider trudi schneider photo ultra high resolution high resolution manufacturing plants library of congress

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

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