Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, History Brochure, circa 1973

This turned up recently, and its pretty unique.  As best as we can tell, its some sort of  INAAP history booklet, perhaps handed out during tours or at some conference or another.  It looks like it was written by someone at the plant, as it contains a great deal of information about INAAP; its history, its capacity, workforce, etc etc.  While it is missing a few pages (2, 20-22), it is still a remarkable little document.  Of note is the reference on page "8" to the fact that 1,000 German prisoners of war worked at the plant at one point.  Hopefully someone finds this stuff interesting.  Rather than hosting it as a pdf, it is set up as pictures that are viewable one at a time.

Abandoned Fourteen Mile Creek Bridges and INAAP - Charlestown, Indiana

The grounds of the abandoned Indiana Army Ammunition Plant are littered with all sorts of structures and debris.  Today, we explore some bridges on the north eastern side of the land, now overgrown but still quite interesting.

16" Naval Gunpowder Bags, as made at INAAP, Charlestown, Indiana

Perhaps the most famous product of INAAP, the 16" naval gunpowder bag is a sight to behold.  A whole bunch of these were recently disassembled for scrap, but I was lucky to get photos of one that had neatly disassembled and restored as a collectible.  Check out the photos inside....

Abandoned Barnett Cemetery at INAAP, Charlestown, Indiana

Located just off US 62 in Charlestown, Indiana, the abandoned Barnett Cemetery is on the grounds of the old Indiana Army Ammunition Plant.  The stones are all quite old and detailed, but the most notable feature of the cemetery is its stone wall.  Join us today as we examine it in more detail.

Ruins of abandoned Tunnel Mill, Charlestown, Indiana

 

Located north of Charlestown, Indiana, these ruins are all that remain of the historic Tunnel Mill.  Now a national historic place and Boy Scout Camp, conservation efforts are finally underway.  Follow along with us as we explore this neat and unusual piece of local history.

Abandoned Time Clock Building, Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, Charlestown, Indiana

Located on the grounds of the old abandoned Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP), this is the time clock building for the whole plant.  While much of the production side has been condemned, this building has been largely left alone.  The following photos have been taken over the span of a few years, and show that neglect is taking its toll regardless.

Powder Plant Igloo Explosion on April 27, 1966 at INAAP, Charlestown, Indiana

Igloo 5186 Q, sibling of the now missing Igloo 5185 Q.

 At about 9:00 on April 27, 1966, the earth near Charlestown Indiana erupted in a volcano like explosion.  In one instant, 175,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded, ending three lives and shattering windows three miles away.  This is the story of what happened that morning, and what is left today.

Abandoned bag loading building, Indiana Army Ammunition Plant, Charlestown, Indiana

 

Located in Charlestown, Indiana, on the grounds of the old Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP), these strange ghostly shells are all that remain of the buildings where gunpowder was loaded into fabric bags. 

Abandoned Rose Island Amusement Park - Charlestown, Indiana

This photo of the old swimming pool is from my first visit to Rose Island back in January 2009 before it was open to the public.

The Rose Island Amusement Park was once the Louisville area's premier family attraction in the early twentieth century.  The park had a wide array of attractions for its time including a swimming pool, hotel, zoo, and dance hall.  The flood of 1937 essentially wiped out most of the park and it was never reopened.  The ruins of the park sat abandoned for decades on the bank of the Ohio River, as it became part of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant.  After INAAP was shut down the land became part of Charlestown State Park.  In 2011 the trails of Charlestown State Park finally expanded into the former Rose Island Amusement Park making access to the park relatively easy.