Quonset hut facts for kids
A Quonset hut is a special kind of building that looks like a half-circle. It's made from steel and is designed to be very simple and quick to build. These huts are made in a factory and then shipped to where they are needed. Workers can then easily put them together. The steel used is corrugated, meaning it has ridges like waves, and it's also galvanized, which means it's covered in a protective layer to stop it from rusting.
The idea for the Quonset hut came from the United States. It was inspired by the Nissen hut, which the British used during World War I. Many thousands of Quonset huts were built during World War II. After the war ended, the extra huts were sold to people for different uses. The name "Quonset" comes from the place where they were first made: Quonset Point in Davisville, Rhode Island.
Contents
How Quonset Huts Were Designed and Used
Creating a Quick and Easy Building
The first Quonset huts were made in 1941 for the United States Navy. The Navy needed a building that could be used for many things. It also had to be light and easy to move around. Most importantly, it had to be simple enough for people without special building skills to put together. The George A. Fuller construction company built the very first Quonset huts. They finished them in just 60 days after getting the job! After that, many factories around the world started making them.
Common Sizes and Features
The first Quonset huts were about 16 feet (4.9 m) wide and 36 feet (11 m) long. They had a rounded roof that was 8 feet (2.4 m) high in the middle. The most common size became 20 feet (6.1 m) wide and 48 feet (15 m) long. This size gave about 960 square feet (89 m2) of space inside. Some huts also had small roofs that stuck out 4 feet (1.2 m) at each end. These helped protect the doors from bad weather. Other sizes were made too, depending on what was needed.
The curved sides of the hut were made from those wavy, corrugated steel sheets. The two flat ends were made of plywood, and they had doors and windows. Inside, the huts were kept warm with insulation. They also had a lining of pressed wood and a wooden floor. These buildings could be set up on concrete, on tall poles called pilings, or even directly on the ground with just a wooden floor. The inside was one big open space, which meant it could be used for many different things. For example, they were used as barracks (places for soldiers to sleep), latrines (bathrooms), medical offices, places for sick people to stay, homes, and even bakeries!
Quonset Huts After the War
Around 150,000 to 170,000 Quonset huts were built during World War II. After the war, the military sold the extra huts to the public. Many of these huts are still used today in the United States for different purposes. Some are even still used at United States military bases around the world.
Images for kids
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A Quonset hut being put in place at the 598th Engineer Base Depot in Japan, post-World War II
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A Quonset Hut in Dade City Florida
See also
In Spanish: Barraca Quonset para niños
