Miamisburg in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Site of Mound Laboratory (1946- 2003)
Side A
The facilities once here propelled the United States through the Nuclear and Space Ages and were named for the nearby pre-historic Miamisburg Mound. The Manhattan engineer District of the War Department began construction of Mound Laboratory in 1946. The facility consolidated production of the nuclear-reaction initiators, developed for the United States’ first atomic bombs during World War II. Previously (1943-1946), the work to separate, purify, and process the element polonium used in these initiators occurred at facilities throughout the Dayton area. Mound Laboratory was the first permanent post-WWII Atomic Energy Commission site. Mound Laboratory had 116 buildings and at its peak employed approximately 2,500 scientists, engineers, and skilled workers. Contractors operating at the site were Monsanto (1947- 1988), Edgerton, Germeshausen, and Grier (1988- 1997), and Babcock and Wilcox (1997- 2002).
Side B
The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and the Department of Energy operated Mound Laboratory as an integrated research, development and production center from 1948- 2003. These facilities supported missions including the invention of the radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), fueled nearly 2,500 polonium-210 and plutonium-238 heat sources, as well as the assembly and testing of RTGs. The
Erected 2016 by Mound Science and Energy Museum, Mound Development Corporation, Miamisburg Historical Society, and The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 26- 57.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Science & Medicine • War, Cold. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list.
Location. 39° 37.924′ N, 84° 16.903′ W. Marker is in Miamisburg, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Marker is on Mound Rd, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 634 Mound Rd, Miamisburg OH 45342, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mound Laboratory (1946- 2010) (here, next to this marker); Miamisburg Mound (approx. 0.3 miles away); Miamisburg Mound State Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Historical Era of Miamisburg Mound (approx. 0.3 miles away); Has This Site Ever Been Explored? (approx. 0.3 miles away); Current Restoration Efforts (approx. 0.3 miles away); Who built the Mound and why did they build it? (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Miamisburg Mound (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Miamisburg.
Also see . . . Mound Laboratory Historic Markers Dedication (YouTube, 25 min.). (Submitted on June 6, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 19, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 373 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 19, 2017, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.