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Period: to
Spanish American War
Spanish American War -
7 Inch Gun
The firing position of the 7-inch siege gun is demonstrated in the courtyard of Shop G (Building 108) in 1898. During the Spanish-American War, Rock Island Arsenal provided implements and equipments for batteries using the 5-inch and 7-inch siege guns. -
Slotter at Work
A slotter works at a milling machine in Shop G (Building 110). The basement and first floor of the west wing of Shop G were used as a machine and construction shop for field carriages, limbers, caissons, and battery wagons and forges and for siege carriages and limbers. -
Boys Sewing Canteen Liners
Boys were hired to sew the felt liners on canteens. Sewing on the canvas cover was the next production step. During the Spanish-American War, Rock Island Arsenal and its contractors manufactured 259,505 canteens, 202,162 infantry canteen straps, and 27,207 cavalry canteen straps. -
Shop Foremen
During the Spanish-American War, Rock Island Arsenal had two work shifts that each worked 10-hour days. The day foremen for each of the manufacturing areas gathered for this photograph in 1898. -
Making Mess Kits
An arsenal workman makes meat can (mess kit) handles in the tin shop. During the Spanish-American War, Rock Island Arsenal manufactured and procured from contractors 241,599 meat cans, 210,211 knives, 184,029 forks, and 287,923 spoons.
15 July -
Harness Shop
A wide variety of cavalry and horse equipment was produced, and nearly 700 men and boys were employed in the harness shop. Rock Island Arsenal and its contractors manufactured 13,801 saddles, 20,262 saddlebags, 479 sets of lead horse artillery harness, and 148 sets of wheel horse artillery harness. -
Loading Artillery
Rock Island Arsenal workers load artillery carriages onto railroad cars in 1898. Shop A (Building 102) can be seen in the background. US troops used Rock Island Arsenal’s artillery, like the 3.2-inch field gun and 7-inch siege howitzer, in Cuba during the Spanish-American War.
