Near Wood River in Hall County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2021
1. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Marker
Commonly known as the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant, the facility opened in 1942 and covered nearly 20 square miles. During World War II it produced artillery shells and various bombs weighing up to 2,000 pounds apiece. An explosion on May 26, 1945, killed nine people, leveled a building, and was felt in nearby towns of Cairo and Wood River. The cause was unknown. The plant ceased operations the day after Japan's surrender, but was reactivated during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Erected 2019 by Hall County Historical Society; Wood River Centennial Community Foundation; and Nebraska State Historical Society. (Marker Number 553.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • War, Korean • War, Vietnam • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Nebraska State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 26, 1945.
Location. 40° 55.024′ N, 98° 30.904′ W. Marker is near Wood River, Nebraska, in Hall County. Marker is on West Old Potash Highway, 0.2 miles west of North 90th Road, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wood River NE 68883, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. B-17 Crash, 1943 (approx. 6.1 miles away); Amiel Whipple W.R.C. Civil War Memorial
this page online
Also see . . .
1. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. Nebraska Cold War Legacy Project website entry:
Built during the hectic early days of World War II in the United States, construction of the plant began on March 24, 1942. During the war around 15,000 persons were employed there overall, producing 90 lb and 260 lb fragmentation bombs, 1000 and 2000 lb general demolition bombs and 105 mm high-explosive artillery shells. At peak, 4,229 persons were employed and four loading lines were in production. On May 26, 1945 an explosion killed nine persons and destroyed a three-story concrete building. (Submitted on September 13, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2021
2. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Marker
2. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. Wikipedia entry:
The facility included production areas (where munitions were loaded, assembled, and packed), a fertilizer manufacturer, storage facilities, sanitary landfill, and burning grounds where materials contaminated with explosives were ignited. Explosives produced or used included TNT, RDX and HMX. It is currently an EPA Superfund site because of groundwater contamination by explosives and soil contamination by explosives and heavy metals. (Submitted on September 13, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 11, 2021
3. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Disaster
Special thanks to Howard Uhrich
(adjacent to Nebraska Historical Marker)
Lola Britten • Betty Ledford • Mark Burke • James Moon
Fred Abraham • Earl W. Brown • Ambrose Welch
Albert Otto Schultz • George Wilkins
4. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Disaster
5. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Disaster
6. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Disaster
7. Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant Disaster
Credits. This page was last revised on November 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 12, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 734 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on September 13, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
