Locust Point Industrial Area in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Great Guns of the Fort… The Rodman Cannons
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
1. The Great Guns of the Fort... The Rodman Guns Marker
The guns in front of you are the heaviest cannons ever mounted at Fort McHenry. The largest fired exploding projectiles weighing 440 pounds. Mass-produced they represent the "coming of age" of America's iron industry. A special process developed by Thomas J. Rodman, enabled them to cool from the inside out giving them durability and their distinctive bottle-shaped appearance.
Installed in 1866, the Army improved the Rodman Guns with rifling (grooved barrel) a decade later. The hydraulic cylinder and bumpers coated with rubber were added in 1888. Obsolete not long after they were installed, they were fired only for ceremonies such as the Fourth of July and Defender's Day.
[Caption:]
Firing the guns on July 4, 1903. Note the cranes next to each gun to hoist ammunition.
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.
Location. 39° 15.786′ N, 76° 34.747′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in the Locust Point Industrial Area. Marker can be reached from Constellation Plaza, 0.3 miles east of Wallace Street, on the right when
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Experimental Carriages (here, next to this marker); You Can Help Save Fort McHenry (a few steps from this marker); Dawn's Early Light (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); Bombproofs (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War Guardhouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 25, 2021
2. The Great Guns of the Fort… The Rodman Cannons Marker
Photographed By Adam Margolis, August 25, 2021
3. The Great Guns of the Fort… The Rodman Cannons Marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
4. The Fourth of July, 1903
Firing the guns on July 4, 1903. Note the cranes next to each gun to hoist ammunition.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
5. Rifled Rodman
An iron sleeve has been added to this Rodman gun to rifle it.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
6. Do Not Climb on Cannons
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
7. Rodman Guns
Overlooking Baltimore Harbor
Overlooking Baltimore Harbor
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, October 13, 2012
8. Muzzle
These smooth bore muzzle loading guns were the pinnacle of Coast Artillery development in the mid 19th century.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 960 times since then and 45 times this year. Last updated on April 6, 2024, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on June 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on January 16, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 1, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
