Torpedo Factory Art Center facts for kids
The Torpedo Factory Art Center is a really cool place located right by the Potomac River in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia. It used to be a factory that made weapons, but now it's a lively art center! You can find it at 105 N. Union Street, close to the end of King Street.
This art center is special because it has the most artist studios open to the public in the whole U.S. Every year, over half a million people visit and meet the artists working there. It has more than 82 artist studios, seven art galleries, and two workshops. About 165 professional artists work here, creating amazing things. They use many different materials like paint, clay, cameras, jewelry, stained glass, fabric, and even sculptures. The Torpedo Factory has become a great example of how to turn an old place into a creative hub for other towns.
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A Look Back: The History of the Torpedo Factory
Building a Factory for Torpedoes
After a lot of planning, the U.S. Navy started building the U.S. Naval Torpedo Station on November 12, 1918. This was just one day after Armistice Day, which marked the end of World War I. For five years, the factory built torpedoes, which are special underwater weapons. After that, it was used to store other military supplies.
World War II and Beyond
When World War II began, the factory started making torpedoes again. It produced Mark III torpedoes for airplanes and Mark XIV torpedoes for submarines. These were very important for the war effort.
After the war ended in 1945, the big building was used for government storage. It held many different things, like important documents from Congress, artifacts from the Smithsonian Museum, and even records from the Nazi trials. Later, in 1969, the City of Alexandria bought the building.
Becoming an Art Center
In 1974, a woman named Marian Van Landingham, who was the president of The Art League, had a great idea. She suggested turning part of the old factory into art studios. This project was planned to last for only three years at first.
Big changes began in May 1974, and the new art center officially opened on September 15, 1974. From 1982 to 1983, the building got even more updates. It was completely redone inside with new air systems and heating. It reopened on May 20, 1983. Other old factory buildings nearby were taken down to build the Torpedo Factory Condominiums in 1985.
Artists Take the Lead
In the 1990s, the Torpedo Factory Artists’ Association (TFAA) was created by artists and The Art League. This group started helping to manage the Art Center. The TFAA is a community of over 275 professional artists who have been chosen to display their work. Artists like Tanya Davis have been presidents, and currently, artist Rachel Kerwin leads the group.
In 2018, the City of Alexandria took over all the operations of the Torpedo Factory. Some artists were not happy about this change.
Images for kids
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A view of the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
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Inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
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Art on display at the Torpedo Factory.
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A hallway inside the art center.
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More art and studios.
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Visitors enjoying the art.
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A closer look at some artwork.
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The entrance to an artist's studio.
