Piqua in Miami County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Piqua Nuclear Power Facility

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025

1. Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Marker

Inscription. The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was part of the US Atomic Energy Commission's Power Demonstration Reactor Program. The program developed experimental nuclear reactors that could supplement steam generation for electricity production. In 1956, the commission accepted Director of Municipal Utilities John P. Gallagher's proposal to build a reactor in Piqua and the following year Congress set aside $11.465.000 for the project. The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was the first nuclear power plant of any type to be operated by a municipal utility. It reached. criticality in 1963 and. for a few years. Piqua proudly called itself "The Atomic City." The reactor was shut down due to technical issues. and economic considerations in 1966. It was fully decommissioned by February 1969. The facilities were demolished in 2023.

Erected 2024 by Office of Legacy Management, U.S. Department of Energy; Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 36-55.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1969.

Location. 40° 7.961′ N, 84° 14.194′ W. Marker is in Piqua, Ohio, in Miami County

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. It is at the intersection of South Main Street and Hemm Road, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1019 S Main St, Piqua OH 45356, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro,

in the Miami Valley,

and in the Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility (here, next to this marker); Piqua (approx. 0.2 miles away); Piqua's Early African-American Heritage (approx. ¼ mile away); The Village of Huntersville (approx. 0.9 miles away); Vice Admiral Stephen Clegg Rowan (approx. 0.9 miles away); Shawnee Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Shawnee Bridge (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Shawnee Bridge (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piqua.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 7, 2025

2. Piqua Nuclear Power Facility Marker

Piqua Nuclear Power Facility As it sits now image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 14, 2025

3. Piqua Nuclear Power Facility As it sits now

It is now a pile of stone behind cement barricades. There is a stone with writing on top, however I couldn't reach anyone about getting closer to it. It is fenced off with cameras and padlocks around the entire water treatment facility.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 188 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 11, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 20, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.