The first bridge that connected Moline, Illinois, to Rock Island (now Arsenal Island) was constructed by David B. Sears. Sears had constructed a small mill dam across the southern channel of the Mississippi River. A second dam completed the route from the Illinois mainland to the island. Because of the flat surface of both dams, wagons were able to traverse over the tops. This point in the navigation of the river allowed ferries to move wagons from Illinois to Iowa across the river by way of a steamboat landing on Benham's Island.

When Sears sold the property back to the federal government, the dams and the mills were destroyed, along with the steamboat landing. As a result, a stone bridge was constructed that connected Moline with Arsenal Island. The last-known map that included the crossing from Moline to Benham's Island was dated 1867. By 1870, the plans for a power dam downstream of the Sears Dam were presented to the War Department.

The railroad crossing at the downstream end of the island from the city of Rock Island to Davenport had already been opened, and a subsequent bridge with a built-in wagon crossing was already being planned. This bridge would be completed in the mid-1870s. The old Moline Bridge would go through several revisions before construction of the span that is used today.

In 1855, David Sears purchased title to Benham's Island, situated near the upper or eastern portion of the larger island of Rock Island (now Arsenal Island). Earlier, in 1846, he had built a stone wall dam which connected Benham's Island with Rock Island. The dam provided water power to his flour mill and several other neighboring businesses on the main island. A road built between the two dams formed part of a wagon route stretching from Moline to the steamboat landing at Benham's Island. From here, wagons were ferried across the river to Iowa.

The Sears' mill and dams built at Rock Island attracted other businesses. The water power brought commerce to the island. In 1847, Sears persuaded John Deere and his partners, Robert N. Tate and John Gould, to settle in Moline along the shore of Sylvan Slough.

Despite their holding of property, Sears and other citizens did not hold legal authority to the land on Rock Island. Because of this, they maintained communication with federal officials in an effort to obtain legal titles to the properties. George Davenport and David Sears were the only two citizens who were able to do so. When Sears sold the property on Rock Island back to the federal government, it was at a cost of $145,175 due to improvements on the property. His original purchase price was somewhere around $44.50.

The Rock Island National Cemetery is one of 130 national cemeteries operated by the Veterans Administration throughout the United States. Established in 1863 as the post cemetery, it is among the 20 oldest national cemeteries. It is also among the 30 largest national cemeteries in terms of number of burials, with almost 30,000 interments.

Rock Island National Cemetery was established in 1863 when an area was set aside to bury Union soldiers who died while serving as guards at the Confederate prisoner of war camp then operated at Rock Island Arsenal.

In 1868, the inspector of national cemeteries reported that the Rock Island cemetery contained 136 remains, including seven unknowns and six women and children. He described it as rectangle of 216 feet by 96 feet, enclosed with a "paling fence."

At the time, the arsenal's commanding officer, Brigadier General Thomas Rodman, indicated that the location of the burial area would ultimately conflict with his plans for extending arsenal buildings. He recommended the remains of individuals currently interred at Rock Island be moved to the upper end of the island; the inspector of national cemeteries further suggested that Civil War casualties interred in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport, Iowa, be removed to the new site. Subsequent property transfers from the Rock Island Arsenal reservation brought the national cemetery to its present 66.8 acres, 53.3 which are developed.

Today, Rock Island National Cemetery is the final resting place of soldiers who served in the Civil War, as well as the Mexican War, Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korean War, Operation Desert Storm and the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Obituary

General Thomas J. Rodman died 7 June 1871 at 1:30 AM. He was buried on Rock Island Arsenal on 9 June 1871. He was born in Salem, Indiana, on 31 July 1816. While stationed at Allegheny Arsenal, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he married Miss Martha Black, daughter of Reverend Black of the Episcopalian Church of Pittsburgh. They had two daughters and five sons. General Rodman took sick on 15 December 1870, and was attended by Doctor Gregg.

History

Referred to as the "Father of the Rock Island Arsenal," Brevet Brigadier General Thomas J. Rodman was transferred to Rock Island from Watertown Arsenal, Massachusetts, in July 1865. Rodman had a distinctive vision for the newly founded arsenal, one that emphasized Rock Island as a grand national arsenal that would exceed the distinction of all others.

Rodman's vision called for the construction of ten stone shops at the center of the island, constructed entirely of Joliet limestone. The shops on the north would be the island's armory row, while the shops on the south would be the arsenal row. Rodman, a stickler for aesthetics, also insisted on the construction of his officer's quarters in the same Joliet limestone.

Rodman would not live long enough to see the completion of the arsenal. He died in his quarters on June 7, 1871. His funeral was held in Quarters One, where members of the community poured in to pay their respects. Accounts state that over 100 wagons full of citizens flocked to the arsenal.

Rodman is credited not only for his planning of the Rock Island Arsenal, but for the development of the Rodman Gun. The Rodman Gun would be used in coastal defenses around the United States for many years during his life and following his death.

Rodman is buried at Rock Island National Cemetery. His grave is flanked by three Rodman Guns.

Rock Island Arsenal was at the forefront of the history of tanks in the U.S. Army. That history began in 1919, when RIA was tasked with the assembly of 100 Mark VIII Liberty tanks. The American version of these tanks was only assembled at Rock Island Arsenal, and only three tanks remain today, two of which were produced at the arsenal.

Rock Island Arsenal would be tasked again and again in subsequent decades to assist with assembly and manufacture of tanks and tank parts. This included almost 300 T1E4 light tanks during the interwar years and the early World War II-era M2A1 medium tank. The arsenal also aided in the overhaul, assembly, and production of M3 Lee tanks and the overhaul of the M4A3 Sherman tank.

With an abundance of work being conducted on tracked vehicles such as combat cars, trucks, and tanks, RIA allocated locations on the island to test these vehicles. The initial location for testing was at the Kingsbury hard lot, located on the southwest side of the island. From the interwar years through the Korean War, this lot was used to test the integrity of tracks fitted onto these vehicles.

Since the lot was not dedicated explicitly to the testing of heavy vehicles, a separate test track was established during World War II. The track was used periodically through about 2010. Today, the test track remains in viable condition and is still sometimes used.

The Confederate Cemetery is all that remains from the Rock Island Prison Barracks, which was one of 21 prison camps operated by the Union Army during the Civil War. Almost 2,000 prisoners died at the camp. Each gravestone in the Confederate Cemetery identifies the individual soldier and his company and unit. The Veteran Administration maintains the cemetery today.

The Confederate Cemetery covers a rectangular, three-acre parcel of land, bound by Rodman Avenue and a post-and-chain fence to the north, Confederate Avenue to the south, and heavy tree cover to the east and west. A paved walkway extends from Rodman Avenue to the edge of the burial sites, passing a six-foot tall obelisk that the Daughters of the Confederacy dedicated in 2003 to the Confederate veterans who died at Rock Island. At the south end of the grounds, opposite the monument, is the cemetery's flagpole. Four Confederate cannons sit near the entrance, two each on either side of the monument.

The burial area is roughly square and consists of 20 rows of graves running north and south. Although the spacing of each row is identical, the beginning and end of the rows are irregular. In 1908, the Commission for Marking the Graves of Confederate Dead began a program to place distinctive pointed-top marble headstones, inscribed with the name and regimental affiliation of each soldier, on the graves. The graves were previously marked with wooden markers and a few private headstones.

Between 1863 and 1865, the federal government established a second cemetery of a little more than two acres for the burial of Confederate prisoners of war. More than 1,950 soldiers died at the Confederate prison on Rock Island Arsenal, founded there in 1863.

From 1863 to 1865, Rock Island Arsenal was home to one of many Civil War prison camps. Like other camps in the North, it was plagued with disease and illness, claiming the lives of both Confederate prisoners and Union guards. Most deaths were due to smallpox or dysentery. Confederate prisoners were buried in the old Confederate cemetery, while Union guards were laid to rest in a separate guard cemetery near the arsenal’s old housing area.

During the arsenal’s development, Brigadier General Thomas Rodman determined that the original cemetery locations conflicted with future construction plans. He ordered the relocation of both cemeteries to the upper end of the island, where they remain today. The Confederate Cemetery was reestablished with remains from the original site, while the new National Cemetery included remains from the old guard cemetery and the original post cemetery near Fort Armstrong.

The older post cemetery, dating back to 1836, was located near the crossroads of Fort Armstrong Avenue and Beck Road, just outside the present Rock Island Gate. In addition to the relocated remains, soldiers who had served during the Civil War and were buried in other local cemeteries were also moved to the National Cemetery.

Today, no markers remain to indicate the locations of either the original post cemetery or the old guard cemetery, but their legacy lives on in the carefully maintained grounds of the National Cemetery.

During World Wars I and II, Rock Island Arsenal sent civilian employees to Europe to study weapon systems and manufacturing processes. These missions provided firsthand knowledge of machining recoil mechanisms, gun carriages, and stocks, as well as insight into battlefield conditions. This experience helped improve the quality and relevance of materiel produced at the Arsenal.

These deployments came with risk, and some civilian employees lost their lives in active combat zones. In 1950, Rock Island Arsenal dedicated Memorial Field to honor those civilians who died while serving with the U.S. Armed Forces, both in and out of uniform. The field continues to honor the sacrifices of the civilian workforce.

Memorial Field began with a few macro artifacts and now features 26 pieces, including foreign weapons from China, the Soviet Union, Germany, and Iraq, as well as American variants of Allied designs. Notably, the field includes rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts such as the XM70E2 115-mm Rocket Launcher (the only surviving example), the M2A2 “Terra-Star,” and the XM124E2 Howitzer.

The M65 Atomic Cannon, one of only eight remaining, is a high-caliber artillery system capable of firing atomic shells. The M198 155-mm Howitzer, a modern product of Rock Island Arsenal, remains in use by NATO forces. The iconic M4A3 Sherman tank, with over 70 years of history, played a pivotal role in World War II.

Today, Memorial Field hosts ceremonies and tours that celebrate the Arsenal’s legacy of innovation, quality, and service.

The ten stone shops were constructed from 1867 to 1893 as part of General Thomas J. Rodman's plan for a national arsenal. The five buildings on the south side were designated as "Arsenal Row" and were used for manufacture and overhaul of personal equipment for troops. The buildings on the north side were designated "Armory Row" and were used for the manufacture and overhaul of small arms.

Rock Island Arsenal was founded on July 11, 1862, when Congress passed an act establishing three new arsenals. The first building erected was Storehouse A, now known as the Clock Tower Building and home to the Rock Island District of the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Rodman envisioned a grand national arsenal for the nation centered around ten stone shops which still stand today.

The five shops to the north were designated as Armory Row, while the five to the south were designated as Arsenal Row. A fire station and barracks flanked the shops to the west. The forge was the middle building to the north, and the foundry was the middle building to the south. All of the buildings were constructed using Joliet limestone.

The first conflict that RIA produced for was the Spanish-American War, when the arsenal manufactured a number of carriages, saddles, and personal equipment for soldiers. During World War I, the arsenal was responsible for producing and retrofitting M1903 Springfield rifles, canteens, carriages, and other equipment. The main production item that immediately followed the war was the Mark VIII Tank, the first American-made tank. RIA produced all 100 American built Mark VIII tanks in just over one year.

Rock Island Arsenal has been active during every U.S. conflict since its birth, and has continually expanded into its current-day operations. From 1862 through today, the Arsenal and its workforce have upheld the creed "Forging the Strength of a Nation."

During the Civil War, Rock Island Arsenal became the site of one of the largest military prisons in the North, since policy dictated that prisoners be removed as far as possible from the scenes of hostility. This policy was ideal for the arsenal, because it was owned by the government, it was hardly used, and it was secure. Construction of the prison camp began in July of 1863, and the first prisoners were received that December.

The Union operated 21 prison camps during the Civil War, including one on Rock Island Arsenal. The camp was situated in an area that now includes half of "Officer's Row" residences and the golf course west of East Avenue and east of Gillespie Avenue.

The barracks at the camp measured 22 by 100 feet, arranged in six rows, housing approximately 120 prisoners each. The total capacity for the camp was around 10,000. Between December 1863 and June 1865, a total of 12,215 prisoners were held at the camp. Nearly 2,000 of them died, mostly due to dysentery and smallpox. A brutal cold snap shortly after the first arrivals reportedly dropped temperatures to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, resulting in deaths from exposure.

After the war ended, prisoners were released at the gates of the installation. The remaining barracks were turned over to the War Department and Rock Island Arsenal, and were later demolished. Few remains of deceased prisoners were returned to the South, as few were requested or had the means to be transported. Most who died in captivity were buried at the Confederate Cemetery on the arsenal.

Today, all that remains of the prison camp is a stone monument located on the riverfront at the far northeast corner of the original site.

"On behalf of the officers, men and civilian workers, I accept this sundial for the U.S. Army Weapons Command. As a symbol of time, the stuff that life is made of, this sundial will be a constant reminder that given the time, the many wonderful people of the U.S. Army Weapons Command and its Rock Island Arsenal will solve today's and tomorrow's problems while providing rich contributions to the life of the community."

Sundial

In 1877, Frankfort Arsenal in Pennsylvania gifted this sundial to Rock Island Arsenal. It remains in its original location and is one of the few meso-sized artifacts still in place. The sundial's surface was repaired in 1969 and rededicated in September 1970.

Flagler's Battery

Named after Lieutenant Colonel Daniel W. Flagler, commander of Rock Island Arsenal, Flagler's Battery was constructed around the same time the sundial was installed. It is believed to have served as a salute battery rather than a defensive installation, as its location near Quarters One suggests ceremonial use.

The battery featured two 30-pound Parrott rifled cannons and was decorated with stacks of cannonballs, similar to other displays on the island. Although the exact date of its removal is unknown, it is estimated to have been dismantled in the 1920s or 1930s, possibly around the time the tea house at Quarters One was destroyed.

When Rock Island Arsenal was established in 1862, few permanent buildings existed on the 946-acre island. By 1866, the only permanent structure was the Clocktower Building. Other remnants included the ruins of the Colonel Davenport House and barracks from the Confederate Prison Camp. As part of his master plan, Colonel Thomas J. Rodman designed ten stone shops, ten storehouses, and Quarters One through Four.

Quarters One is located on the north-central shore of what is now Arsenal Island. It served as the residence for 38 senior officers assigned to Rock Island Arsenal, with the last resident vacating in 2008.

At over 20,000 square feet, Quarters One is the largest house owned by the U.S. Army and second largest in the federal inventory—surpassed only by the White House. The grounds once featured a Japanese-style teahouse on the river, along with a root cellar and conservatory added in the early 1900s and maintained through the 1980s.

Construction of the three-story Italianate Villa-style home began in 1869 and was completed in 1871. The exterior features hand-carved limestone with ornate cast-iron accents made from recycled ordnance left behind after Fort Armstrong’s closure. The limestone walls are two feet thick, with the tower rising two additional stories using 18-inch-thick stone sourced from Joliet, Illinois and LeClaire, Iowa.

Inside, Quarters One boasts original polychrome oak and walnut floors, nine marble fireplaces, one brick fireplace, decorative cornices, 16-foot ceilings, and spacious rooms throughout.

COL Rodman justified the construction of Quarters One for hosting public gatherings, accommodating guests of the arsenal, and housing Soldiers on the third floor who were being overcharged by local lodging. The first public event held there was in June 1871 following Rodman’s death, when over 100 wagons of visitors came to pay tribute to the “father of the Rock Island Arsenal.”

Over the years, Quarters One has hosted many distinguished guests including Charles Lindbergh, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and General John “Blackjack” Pershing. It has also served as temporary housing for foreign attachés and hosted USO events.

Though no longer a residence, Quarters One continues to serve the community by hosting weddings, receptions, meetings, parties, and other catered events for both Rock Island Arsenal and the greater Quad City area.

The Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club was founded on July 24, 1897, by Captain (later Colonel) Stanhope Blunt, then serving as arsenal commander. It was one of the first golf clubs in the region. The original clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 1905, and the current structure was built in 1906 at a cost of approximately $17,000.

The golf course received its official license from Secretary of War William Howard Taft in 1905. Today, it is operated by Rock Island Arsenal’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) Division.

Before the fire, members used small facilities as locker rooms. The Rock Island Argus described the new clubhouse as being as fine as any in Chicago, aside from the main dining area. In 1920, the Grand Ballroom was added to the clubhouse, enhancing its appeal and functionality.

Since its founding, the clubhouse and golf course have hosted numerous tournaments and championships, becoming a central part of the Arsenal’s recreational life.

Until 2009, the RIA Golf Club was managed by Federal Sports Management under a lease with the Department of the Army. This arrangement privatized the course for arsenal employees and club members. In 2010, management transitioned to the U.S. Army’s MWR Division, and the course was opened to the public.

The course remained open until 2019, when it was permanently closed. Today, the modern clubhouse sits in Building 60, and the golf course consists of the driving range and a nine-hole course.

The now-removed artificial lake on Arsenal Island was originally located just south of the Confederate Prison Camp. Its drainage basin emptied just south of the present-day RIA Golf Clubhouse. The lake was fed by a reservoir system located north of Building 64. Today, the 18th hole of the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course intersects part of the former headwaters, and the driving range runs along the north edge of the former lake.

The original plan for Rock Island Arsenal centered around ten stone shops, with supporting buildings nearby. Officer quarters, including the commandant’s residence, were placed on the north shore overlooking the Mississippi River. Fire and police stations, barracks, headquarters, and other facilities were located west of the manufacturing complex.

To create a natural divide between the manufacturing center and officer living quarters, a lake was dredged in the prairie between the two zones. It stretched from the midpoint of the stone shops to just west of West Avenue, where it drained. A bridge on West Avenue allowed traffic to cross the drainage area toward the commandant’s quarters.

A second bridge was built near the lake’s headwaters for officers to avoid walking around the lake via West or East Avenues. This stone bridge measured just over 120 feet in length and featured lion’s head sculptures at each end—hence the name “Lion’s Head Bridge.” The bridge collapsed in 2015 and has since been condemned.

The former lake bed is now home to the first and last holes of the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course, as well as the driving range.

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum opened to the public on July 4, 1905. It was established with artifacts supplied by Chief of Ordnance Major General William Crozier, who sent 15 boxes of materiel in 1903 “for the purpose of preserving it in a Military Museum to be established at Rock Island Arsenal.” It is the second oldest Army museum in the United States.

In 1904, a small arms plant was established at Rock Island Arsenal to manufacture the Model 1903 rifle. To make room for the plant, obsolete weapons and materiel stored at the arsenal were sold at auction. Before shipment, two examples of each item were retained for the museum, forming the foundation of its collection.

The original museum was housed in Shop A (modern Building 102), located across the street from its current home in Building 60. During World War I and II, the museum closed to accommodate manufacturing needs. It reopened in 1948 in Building 60.

The museum’s mission was to present the history of Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island, with a focus on small arms development. Exhibits included weapons racks and assorted arsenal products. As the arsenal evolved, so did the museum’s displays—especially during the establishment of commodity commands in the 1950s and the transition away from an Arsenal Commander in 2004–2005.

In 1959, the museum was named in honor of John M. Browning and emphasized its small arms mission. It was renamed back to the Rock Island Arsenal Museum in 1986. The phrase “People, Processes, and Products” was adopted to reflect the museum’s core themes.

The museum closed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It remained closed for renovations, which improved artifact presentation and introduced interactive exhibits. The updated museum now highlights Rock Island Arsenal’s historical role, its products, and the people behind them.

Notable items on display include the M1903 Springfield rifle (Serial Number 1), the XM204 and XM102 105-mm Howitzers, the bell from the steamboat Effie Afton, and lumber from the original Fort Armstrong.

The Rock Island Arsenal Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on all federal holidays and the day after Thanksgiving.

"Rock Island Arsenal was literally transformed by construction projects undertaken immediately prior to, during, and just following the period in which this country was involved in the World War. One familiar with these premises before that conflict would scarcely recognize them after the work was completed. All construction was done under high pressure, but most of it was of a permanent character and detracts nothing from the impression of durability, as well as of architectural beauty and utility which the institution always has given the visitor."

During World War I, Rock Island Arsenal played a critical role in producing a wide range of war materiel. This included gun and ammunition carriages, recoil mechanisms, harnesses, rifles, personal effects such as haversacks, canteens, and silverware, among other items. After the war, the need to store surplus materiel and equipment returning from Europe led to a massive expansion in storage capacity.

In 1917, available storage space was approximately 545,000 square feet. By the end of the war, that number had grown to over 12 million cubic feet. This figure does not include the newly acquired Savanna Proving Grounds north of the arsenal, which added 13,000 acres of outdoor storage space and served as a site for gun and artillery testing.

At Rock Island Arsenal itself, the expansion included the construction of over 70 new buildings. The largest of these was Storehouse W1.

Today, Storehouse W1 is known as Building 350 and serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC). While most of the storage buildings on the south side of the island have been demolished, those on the north side remain in use and now house various Army offices, including Morale, Wellness, and Recreation (MWR), the Commissary, and the Post Exchange.

The Davenport House was the first permanent residence of Colonel George Davenport, a trader with Native Americans and supplier to the U.S. Army. Davenport earned the honorary rank of colonel while serving as the volunteer quartermaster at Fort Armstrong. The city of Davenport, Iowa, was named in his honor.

Completed between 1833 and 1834, the original Davenport House was built in the federal style and is considered the westernmost example of this architectural tradition.

After Fort Armstrong closed in 1836, George Davenport remained on Rock Island, overseeing the upkeep of the abandoned fort and Army depot for several years.

On July 4, 1845, while his family attended a parade in a neighboring town, Davenport—feeling ill—stayed home. Believing the house was empty, bandits broke in searching for rumored wealth. They assaulted Davenport when they found him inside, but fled after realizing the rumors were false. Davenport lived long enough to identify the attackers. One of them, John Long, was not buried until the 1970s.

The Davenport family abandoned the house in 1857. During the Civil War, the U.S. Army rented it as a residence for the commandant of the prison camp. In 1867, the family sold the house and property to the U.S. government, after which it fell into disrepair.

In 1907, Davenport’s grandchildren saved and restored the main structure. Restoration efforts have continued ever since. Today, the house is maintained by the Colonel Davenport Historical Foundation and is open for public tours.

Prior to his murder in 1845, Colonel George Davenport hosted a meeting to discuss bringing the railroad to Rock Island. Though Davenport was killed two weeks later, others carried forward his vision. Among them was Henry Farnham, a railroad industry veteran. A Congressional Act in 1852 granted railroad construction rights over federal land, and Rock Island’s central location made it an ideal crossing point.

Despite private interest, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis opposed the bridge’s location and sent U.S. Marshals to halt construction between 1852 and 1856. Each time the Marshals left, workers resumed building. The bridge was completed on April 22, 1856, by the Mississippi & Missouri Bridge Company.

The wooden bridge used a Howe Truss design with five spans and a draw span at the river’s center. However, a 1859 survey noted the draw span’s poor placement—near the dangerous Rock Island Rapids and misaligned with the main channel’s current.

Two weeks after opening, the steamboat Effie Afton struck the bridge and caught fire, destroying one span. The resulting court case between the railroad and steamboat company featured Abraham Lincoln as counsel for the railroad. The case ended in a hung jury, but ultimately affirmed that bridges could span navigable waterways, provided they yielded to river traffic.

The bridge was repaired and operated until 1865, when it was replaced with heavier timber. In 1866, the federal government proposed relocating the bridge to improve navigation, reduce material use, and accommodate the newly established Rock Island Arsenal. Ice damage in 1868 reinforced the need for replacement.

In 1872, the original bridge was replaced with an iron structure at the site of the current bridge. Today, one of the original bridge piers remains on the Mississippi River bank, a short distance from its original location. The bridge once carried a single rail track and spanned over 1,580 feet from shore to shore.

The Clock Tower Building was the first permanent structure built on Rock Island Arsenal. Construction began in 1864 and was completed in 1867. Originally used as a storehouse, the building is named for the large clock atop its 117-foot tower. Each clock face measures 12 feet in diameter, and remarkably, the clock still runs using its original parts.

On July 11, 1862, Congress authorized three new arsenals—one in Columbus, Ohio; one in Indianapolis, Indiana; and one on federally owned land on an island in the Mississippi River. Storehouse A, now known as the Clock Tower Building, was the first structure built for the newly established Rock Island Arsenal.

Construction was overseen by Major Charles Kingsbury, the arsenal’s first commanding officer. He received detailed instructions and contract information for the building, which was constructed using LeClaire limestone quarried nearby.

The cornerstone was laid on April 12, 1864, and reportedly contained a time capsule. However, a search in 1966 failed to locate it. The original plans called for a 97-foot tower housing a hoist that served all three floors of the building.

Under General Thomas J. Rodman, the building was completed in 1867, with the tower ultimately reaching 117 feet. The clock, installed in 1868, features four 12-foot faces and continues to operate with its original mechanism.

In 1934, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began occupying the building. Additional offices and property were transferred in 1941. Today, the Clock Tower Building is fully occupied by the Rock Island District of the Corps of Engineers.

Overlooking Locks and Dam 15, the Mississippi River Visitor Center is operated by the Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Its lookout provides an excellent vantage point to observe the lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi, the operation of the Government Bridge, and the vital role of barge traffic on the river.

Located on Rock Island Arsenal at Locks and Dam 15, the center highlights the Corps of Engineers’ long-standing efforts—dating back to the early 1800s—to make the Mississippi River navigable for commercial and recreational vessels. From January to March, visitors flock to see bald eagles feeding near the dams. In early spring, commercial navigation resumes, and from April through mid-December, guests can watch boats pass through the locks.

The visitor center welcomes over 30,000 people annually and is fully accessible. In addition to lock and dam tours, park rangers offer a variety of educational programs for the local community.

From the indoor observation area or outdoor deck, visitors can watch pilots skillfully maneuver massive cargo through the lock. Inside the center, guests can enjoy a short film about the Upper Mississippi, explore an aquarium, and engage with interactive displays. Rangers are available to answer questions and guide visitors through the exhibits.

The Government Bridge connecting Arsenal Island to Davenport, Iowa was constructed in 1896 atop the original piers of the 1872 iron bridge. That earlier bridge was the third to span the Mississippi River between Rock Island and Davenport.

The first rail bridge across the Mississippi was completed in 1856 at this location. When the Arsenal was established in 1862 and the prison camp in 1863, plans were made to relocate the bridge to better serve the growing installation. General Thomas J. Rodman’s 1866 vision for a national arsenal included moving the rail crossing to its present-day site.

The 1872 iron bridge, opened by Major Daniel W. Flagler, featured two decks—one for pedestrian and wagon traffic below, and one for rail traffic above. This design helped prevent horses from being startled by passing trains.

As traffic demands grew, the bridge was deemed insufficient. Ralph Modjeski, a young engineer at the time, was awarded the design contract. The 1896 bridge was his first major project (his last would be the original Interstate 74 bridge). Construction was carried out by the Phoenix Bridge Company.

Modjeski’s steel Pratt-Baltimore Truss bridge was heavily over-engineered for durability. It retained the dual-deck design and featured a swing span near the Illinois shore capable of rotating a full 360 degrees. So well balanced, the span can rotate on its own once the brake and fasteners are released. The bridge was built in place atop the original 1872 piers to minimize traffic disruption.

More than 120 years later, the Government Bridge remains one of the most structurally sound crossings on the Mississippi River. Maintenance and part replacements are handled by Rock Island Arsenal’s Department of Public Works and the Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center.

For safety, the bridge contractor enforces a 35-mph wind restriction. On most days, the draw span can open and close without motor assistance due to its exceptional balance. Locks and Dam 15, added in 1931, were constructed as a separate project.

Locks and Dam 15 was the first project completed on the Upper Mississippi River as part of the 9-Foot Channel Project. It was built to control water levels through the Rock Island Rapids—from Rock Island, Illinois, to LeClaire, Iowa—one of the river’s most hazardous stretches. Rocky material was removed or submerged to improve navigation. The lock began operation in August 1933.

Located in the heart of the Quad Cities, Locks and Dam 15 sits 483 miles upstream from the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. The complex spans the river at one of its narrowest points, connecting Arsenal Island on the Illinois side to flat-bottom land on the Iowa side. A roadway and railroad bridge links Davenport and Rock Island across the site.

As the first completed structure in the 9-Foot Channel Project, Dam 15 served as a prototype for the entire system. It is unique in several ways:

• Only dam on the river made entirely of roller gates
• Built at a 16.5° angle to the river to increase dam area
• Uses non-submersible roller gates of varying sizes and lengths
• Includes no earthen embankment dike section
• Incorporates a power plant to operate gates and valves
• Features an open-truss service bridge with a bulkhead-lifting crane
• Intermediate lock wall encases a bridge swing span

Construction benefited from low river stages, a mild winter in 1931–1932, and favorable labor conditions. The average workforce during construction was 221 employees.

The lock and dam were completed at a cost of $7.48 million.

Between 1852 and 1856, the first rail bridge across the Mississippi River was constructed by the Mississippi & Missouri Bridge Company—a joint venture between the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad Company and the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company. The project included two bridges spanning federally owned lands at Rock Island.

The main bridge crossed the northern channel of the Mississippi River from Rock Island (now Arsenal Island) to Davenport, Iowa. The second bridge crossed the southern backwater channel, known as Sylvan Slough, connecting the mainland of Rock Island to Arsenal Island. This bridge was located approximately 20–25 feet west of the current rail crossing and angled from southwest to northeast.

Once on the island, the rail line turned north before veering slightly west. Sylvan Avenue, located west of the modern factory, was built roughly along the path of the original tracks. From there, the rail crossed the northern channel to Davenport.

The southern channel bridge remained in use through the construction of the 1865 bridge. It was only after the 1872 bridge was completed that Major Daniel Flagler ordered the original southern bridge demolished, with its piers cut below the low water mark.

No visible remains of the southern channel bridge exist today. However, side-scanning SONAR conducted by the ASC History Office has revealed the approximate location of the submerged piers, helping to reconstruct the original track alignment across the Mississippi River.

The manufacturing power of Rock Island Arsenal was first tested during the Spanish-American War. Using the original stone shops, the arsenal produced personal equipment for infantry, cavalry, and artillery Soldiers, as well as small field guns, 7-inch howitzers, and 5-inch siege guns.

During World War I, the arsenal produced over $90 million in war materiel, including gun carriages, limbers, battery wagons, recoil mechanisms, rifles, and personal effects developed under the 1910 equipment board. Notable contributions included the M1903 Springfield rifle program, recoil mechanisms for the French 75-mm field gun, and the Mark VIII tank.

Production more than doubled during World War II, expanding to include gun mounts for air and sea use. The foundation of the modern-day factory was laid during this period and has continued to grow ever since.

During the Korean War, the arsenal urgently designed, developed, and deployed the “Super Bazooka” to counter Soviet armor. In 1973, the Weapons Research Laboratory—renamed the General Thomas J. Rodman Laboratory—was transferred to Rock Island Arsenal, bringing weapons system design and development to the installation.

The manufacturing center took on larger projects, including the American M119 variant of the British L119 field gun. In the 1980s, the arsenal acquired the M198 howitzer contract, which led to export sales. During the Global War on Terror, Rock Island continued up-armoring and ad hoc replacement missions.

Today, the Joint Manufacturing & Technology Center (JMTC) at Rock Island Arsenal is the Army’s last and only forge and foundry. From Rodman’s 1866 stone shops to today’s multi-building complex, the arsenal stands ready to deliver industrial power—anytime, for anything.

In April 1941, eight months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, construction began at Rock Island Arsenal on what would become the world’s largest ordnance storehouse—Building 299. Enclosing 18 acres under one roof, the building could fit 17 football fields inside. It was equipped with rail tracks and interior docks capable of loading and unloading entire trains. Building 299 was built to support America’s role as the “Arsenal of Democracy” for nations under attack by the Axis Powers.

As American production ramped up in the lead-up to World War II, depot activities at Rock Island Arsenal increased. By 1940, the existing storage in Storehouse W1 (now Building 350) was deemed insufficient. Although RIA had access to the Savanna Proving Grounds in Illinois, its outdoor storage was inadequate for sensitive war materiel.

Construction of Building 299 began in 1941 to provide secure, indoor space for storing and loading war materiel. The covered facility improved productivity, sped up loading operations, and enhanced security. It was served by two railways.

After the war, Rock Island Arsenal became a central hub for storing overflow parts, equipment, machinery, and weapons. Building 299 housed many items returning from Europe and excess machinery used in wartime production.

Today, Building 299 continues to serve as a major indoor storage facility, complemented by a large outdoor storage area to the east.

"Much additional shop room was needed, and, all told, the additions to the plant amounted to more than one and one-half millions of feet of floor space, costing more than seven millions of dollars. Chief among the new structures built for manufacturing uses were the artillery vehicle plant and the artillery ammunition assembling plant. The latter is 360x400 feet, in three sections, one three stories, one two, and the other one story in height. There were, during the period of hostilities 167,195 155 mm howitzer shells loaded, without adapters and boosters."

Building 250, originally known as Shop L, was constructed in 1917 to serve as an ammunition plant. Workers mixed and filled 155mm cartridges, which were then sent south for fuse assembly. Completed rounds were stored in warehouses located south of present-day Beck Drive and east of Building 299, where rail lines facilitated transport off the island.

World War I marked the only time Rock Island Arsenal manufactured and assembled ammunition. Building 250 and its adjacent facilities were the sole locations for this work.

It was also the first time in arsenal history that women were employed in non-secretarial roles. Female workers mixed TNT into 155mm cartridges—a dangerous task. Building 250 was designed to withstand internal explosions, with numerous windows allowing blast pressure to escape. Three explosions occurred during the war, but no fatalities were reported.

In 1918 alone, over 160,000 155mm shells were manufactured, mixed, and set at Rock Island Arsenal. In later years, ammunition production was separated from other materiel to reduce potential loss.

"Since 1879, Rock Island Arsenal has used the power of the Mississippi River to provide manual and electric power to the buildings located on the island. The first power system was telodynamic, which used four water turbines and a system of cables, belts, and pulleys. In 1899, a fire destroyed the powerhouse and the decision was made to replace the telodynamic system with a hydroelectric system. Situated across the back channel of the Mississippi River on the south shore of the island, the hydroelectric plant has been in continuous operation since 1901 and generates 20 percent of the island's power."

The hydroelectric dam and power plant on the backwaters of the Mississippi River and Sylvan Slough are the most visible remnants of Rock Island Arsenal’s long history of water-powered energy. Originally, the arsenal used a telodynamic system—turbines, cables, belts, and pulleys—to deliver power to the ten stone shops at the center of the manufacturing complex.

Turbines in the dam spun wheels in the power plant, which fed cables through the system. These cables traveled to the rear of each stone shop, where they connected to belts that powered individual machines. The only surviving piece of this system is the cable entry point at the back of the stone shops.

The telodynamic system was used until a fire destroyed the power plant in 1899. Afterward, the arsenal transitioned to a hydroelectric power supply, harnessing the Mississippi River’s energy.

Improvements to the dam’s capacity often led to legal disputes with private interests in nearby Moline. Since its construction in 1872, power from the hydroelectric dam has been shared with the city.

A wing dam works by narrowing the river’s flow—especially during low water—forcing it into a single channel. This increases current velocity and volume, helping to scour the riverbed. River pilots often say wing dams “stop the leaks.” The wing dam near Rock Island Arsenal was part of early river navigation improvements aimed at maintaining a 4½-foot channel along the Mississippi River.

The wing dam stretches upstream from Rock Island Arsenal and ends near the foot of Campbell’s Island. The original section was constructed by David B. Sears during the operation of his mill on the island.

The need for the dam was identified in 1841 when a board appointed by the Secretary of War examined the Rock Island rapids. They noted a combined descent of 13½ feet from Campbell’s Island to the foot of Rock Island, and proposed a river wall to unite these falls:

“The method of uniting these two falls... consists in the erection of a river-wall or dam, extending upward from the head of Rock Island, parallel, or nearly so, to the Illinois shore, till it reaches the foot of Campbell’s Island — the distance... being three miles and three-quarters.”

The dam was built nearly two feet above low water levels, improving navigation through the rapids and allowing riverboat traffic to pass more easily. This was further enhanced by dredging the river.

Today, remnants of the wing dam can be seen from Benham’s Island to just north of Interstate 74 on the Illinois side. The dam sits just below the water’s surface and is visible about halfway to Campbell’s Island, near the Celebration Belle dock. A few artificial rock points between this location and Campbell’s Island are the only remaining surface features of the dam.

Before the establishment of a permanent U.S. military presence, Rock Island—now Arsenal Island—served as a retreat for the Sauk and Meskwaki (Fox) tribes. Downriver was the village of Saukenuk (“village of the Sauk”), with another Meskwaki village on the Iowa side. The Sauk, an Algonquin tribe, had been displaced from their original territory and migrated over a century.

The island offered abundant resources: wild berries, rich vegetation, plentiful game for hunting, and ample trees for woodwork. Beneath the island were shallow caverns believed to be the home of a “Great Spirit” in the form of a large white swan. These caverns ran near the location of the railroad abutment and the supporting wall for modern Locks and Dam 15.

Rock Island rose about 10 feet above the riverbed, giving it a prominent and imposing presence on the Mississippi River. It was first described by Marquette and later by Zebulon Pike. By 1833, most local tribes had been relocated westward, and the U.S. military established a presence on the island in 1816.

The Gathering Point is a community art installation created by artist Kunhild Blacklock and architect Ed Angerer. Completed in July 1999, it blends natural and native history through artistic interpretation. Located near Fort Armstrong, it offers a view over the wetland pocket at the western tip of Arsenal Island.

Representing the 200 years before the military legacy of Rock Island, the Gathering Point is a peaceful location for birdwatching and nature appreciation. During winter, bald eagles can often be seen resting in the trees surrounding the wetland between the Mississippi’s north and south arms.

Fort Armstrong was built in 1816 as part of a system of forts along the Mississippi River. It served as the military headquarters during the Black Hawk War and remained an ordnance depot until 1845. In 1916, a replica of one of its blockhouses was constructed on the original site to commemorate its centennial.

Construction began in May 1816, and the fort was named after John Armstrong, Secretary of War under President James Monroe. The land had previously been a retreat for the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes, whose capital, Saukenuk, was located about five miles south of Rock Island.

The fort’s location on the western tip of Arsenal Island was chosen based on surveys by Zebulon Pike and Robert E. Lee. The nearby Rock Island Rapids created a natural navigational pause, making the site strategically defensible. The abundance of resources on and around the island further supported its selection.

Fort Armstrong’s primary mission was to protect American soldiers, settlers, and commerce along the Mississippi River. However, relations with the Sauk and Meskwaki tribes deteriorated. In 1832, Black Hawk, a Sauk war leader, crossed the river to reoccupy Saukenuk, triggering the Black Hawk War.

After the war’s resolution, Fort Armstrong was no longer needed and was abandoned. Squatters occupied the ruins until a fire destroyed them in 1854. The replica blockhouse, built in 1916, stands as a tribute to the fort’s legacy and its role in early American frontier defense.