Giant Powder Company facts for kids

The Giant Powder Company was a company that made explosives. It operated from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s. The company was located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. It was the first company in the United States to make dynamite. They had a special permission from Alfred Nobel, who invented dynamite.

History of Giant Powder

The company started in August 1867. A man named Julius Bandmann from San Francisco created it. His goal was to make Nobel's new explosive in the United States.

Bandmann quickly started building his factory. It was in a quiet, southern part of San Francisco. This area is now Glen Canyon Park in the Glen Park neighborhood. The factory was ready by early 1868. They began making dynamite in March. This factory site is now a California Historical Landmark (number 1002).

On November 26, 1869, a big explosion happened at the Giant dynamite factory. The factory was destroyed, and several people were hurt. After this, a new factory was built in another part of San Francisco. This was in the western area, among sand dunes. This area later became part of the Sunset District. But another accident also destroyed this second plant.

Factories in Albany and Berkeley

The public was very concerned after these two accidents. So, the Giant Powder Company moved again. They went across the bay to a more distant place. This was in what is now Albany, between Fleming Point and Albany Hill. The train station for the factory was even named "Nobel."

On April 15, 1880, another accidental explosion happened. Many workers and visitors were hurt. After this, the company put in stronger safety rules. They even planted eucalyptus trees on a nearby hill. These trees were meant to act as a buffer for the towns nearby.

During the 1880s, Giant decided to make its own acids. This caused a disagreement with a partner company, Judson Manufacturing Co. Judson then left and started its own company in 1890. They built their factory close by.

On July 9, 1892, another explosion happened at the Giant property. All the workers on site were hurt. The blast was so strong it shattered windows for miles around. This included windows at the University of California campus. The factory was completely destroyed.

Point Pinole Explosives Plant

In 1892, the Giant Powder Company moved one more time. This time they went to Sobrante, near Point Pinole. A company town called Giant, Richmond, California was set up by 1895.

In 1904 and 1907, more accidents happened at this plant, hurting people.

In 1915, the Atlas Powder Company bought the Giant Powder Company. Atlas and another company, Hercules Powder Company, were formed in 1912. This happened after a court ordered the breakup of the DuPont Corporation's monopoly on explosives. The new owners brought in much stricter safety rules.

Giant's factory stayed at Point Pinole for many years. It produced many types of explosives for different uses until 1960. The area where explosives were made was called "Nitro." The nearby company town was called "Giant." You can still see "Giant" on maps today. A main road in the area is called "Giant Highway." The site of the Giant Powder Company at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline is also a California Historical Landmark (number 1002-1). It has a monument and a plaque.

In 1961, soon after the Atlas Powder Company closed its Giant factory, Atlas changed its name. It became Atlas Chemical Industries, Inc., as it started making fewer explosives. Later, in 1971, a company from the UK bought Atlas.