Evansville’s World War II military accomplishments are well-known and documented in Southern Indiana. You might not be aware of it (I certainly wasn’t), but another city in this region of the state was crucial to the war effort and for many years following.
Indiana Army Ammunition Plant
During World War II, a huge industrial facility was constructed in Clark County, Charlestown, Indiana, to make ammunition for the American Army. By April 1941, around 800 structures had already been converted into propellant charges for artillery shells, with construction having started in August 1940. When finished, the complex, which comprised three distinct factories, occupied more than 18,000 acres and featured 92 miles of railroad track, 190 miles of roads, and more than 1,700 structures.
The greatest gunpowder and ordinance plant of its kind in the United States would eventually be the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (INAAP). Between 1941 and 1992, the INAAP produced 3.2 billion pounds of black powder, according to AbandonedOnline.net.
Over the years, the plant has been gradually demolished after being closed and abandoned for a long time. The plant will most likely soon be completely gone. However, a few urban explorers (that’s the best moniker I could think of) were given permission to tour the facilities before that.
The size of the complex is evident from the drone footage they took.
While exploring some of the remaining buildings, the couple was also able to record video.
The YouTube video below has all of their footage. You might want to look into it if you have some free time. A truly interesting piece of Indiana history, it might not be there for long.
