Torpedo Factory Art Center

Originally called the United States Naval Torpedo Station, the Torpedo Factory was built during World War I and specifically designed for the fabrication of dangerous naval ordnance. The building was barely completed when that war ended in November 1919, but it was ready for service when World War II began. During that time, Alexandria's development and role in national defense expanded rapidly because of a huge increase in defense workers in the Washington region. During the 1960s, the Torpedo Factory served as a storage facility for the National Archives, and the documents from the famous Nuremburg Trials, which prosecuted major economic, military, and political leaders of Nazi Germany after the war, were kept there. Founded in 1974, the Torpedo Factory Art Center resulted from the sweat equity of local residents who largely converted the vacant and deteriorated building into art studios with their own hands. It stands as one of the nation's earliest examples of the adaptive reuse of a historic building. The Torpedo Factory showcases the community's dedication to investing in arts and culture and to providing an educational service to inspire the public. This commitment has helped position the City of Alexandria as one of the top art destinations in America. The long tenure of what began as a three-year experiment also shows that the individuals who conceived this artist village, and the organization created to operate it, had a workable concept. Created from a surplus government building, this major cultural attraction has long been an anchor for the lower King Street area. It continues to serve as an invaluable arts education resource and contributes to the image of the City of Alexandria as a sophisticated community with vibrant cultural options.

Alexandria, Virginia · United States