U.S. ARSENAL EXPLOSION MEMORIAL DEDICATION STONE

BECAUSE OF A LABOR SHORTAGE DURING THE CIVIL WAR WOMEN AND GIRLS WERE RECRUITED TO WORK IN THE MANUFACTURING OF MUNITIONS. DURING THE SUMMER OF 1864 A GROUP OF THESE WORKERS WERE ASSEMBLING RIFLE CARTRIDGES AT THE WASHINGTON ARSENAL WHEN FIREWORKS, STORED OUTSIDE IN THE HOT SUN, IGNITED. A PIECE OF BURNING FUSE WAS PROPELLED THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW AND LANDED AMONG THE WORKERS IN LOOSE POWDER, CAUSING A GIANT EXPLOSION, FIRE AND SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS. TWENTY ONE OF THE WORKERS DIED. THIS STONE WAS PLACED FOR THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. ARSENAL EXPLOSION. THE ORIGINAL MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED IN 1865. THE FEMALE FIGURE SYMBOLIZES GRIEF.
SEE ALSO-U.S. ARSENAL EXPLOSION MEMORIAL