Locust Point Industrial Area in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Experimental Carriages

Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 16, 2007

1. Experimental Carriages Marker

Inscription.
Funds for developing new weapons decreased after the Civil War, forcing the Army to upgrade the cannon they already had.

These three 19-inch Rodman gun tubes were probably made during the 1870’s, but their carriages are improved versions developed about 1888. A large hydraulic cylinder returned the gun to its forward position after firing and recoil. Another innovation was the use of bumpers made of a material relatively new to gunnery—rubber.

The automatic return feature eliminated the time consuming step of cranking the gun back into firing position by hand.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Fort McHenry series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 39° 15.783′ N, 76° 34.748′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in the Locust Point Industrial Area. It can be reached from East Fort Avenue. Marker and cannons are on the Fort McHenry grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2400 E Fort Ave, Baltimore MD 21230, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Great Guns of the Fort… The Rodman Cannons (here,

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next to this marker); Dawn's Early Light (a few steps from this marker); You Can Help Save Fort McHenry (a few steps from this marker); Entering Fort McHenry … A Deadly Crossfire (within shouting distance of this marker); Ravelin Magazine (within shouting distance of this marker); 1814 Enlisted Men's Barracks, No 2 (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Guardhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Bombproofs (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Other markers no longer nearby. O Say, Can You See? (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Outer Battery (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed).

Post Civil War cannons. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, September 16, 2007

2. Post Civil War cannons.

10-inch Rodman and Experimental Carriage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 16, 2010

3. 10-inch Rodman and Experimental Carriage

One of the experimental carriages from the front. Just above the pivot point, at the bottom of the carriage, is the cylinder used to move the gun into position.

"Bumpers" on the Carriage image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 16, 2010

4. "Bumpers" on the Carriage

Credits. This page was last revised on February 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,198 times since then and 8 times this year. Last updated on September 21, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 19, 2007, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on August 24, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.