Located in the historic Old Town of Alexandria, Virginia, the Torpedo Factory Art Center has gone from World War munitions producer to modern art studio complex in less than a century.
Construction on the munitions factory began on Armistice Day in 1918 and when finally opened, the Virginia weapons plant was the main provider of American torpedoes until the end of the war when production slowed down. However before the complex could go under, World War II began in earnest and the plant was back in business, producing so many armaments that ten new buildings were eventually added to the complex to meet the demand. However after World War II hostilities died down, the plant was once again in danger of being obsolete. As need for constant weapon production stopped, most of the space was given over to government storage, housing everything from sealed German war films to the Smithsonian's surplus dinosaur bones.
The City of Alexandria finally bought the factory off of the federal government in 1969 and the site's former devotion to destruction was determinedly redirected. Many suggestions as to the building's potential use were entertained, but finally the decision was made to turn the complex into studio and gallery space for local artists.
Like many public art spaces, the Torpedo Factory Art Center has faced closure and lean times over the years with the artists working in near freezing or melting conditions just to keep their donated home alive, but now the space thrives. Currently the Torpedo Factory houses 82 studios, six galleries, and two workshops catering to over 160 local artisans creating in everything from fiberworks to printmaking. This factory meant for destruction is now solely devoted to creation.
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