The Torpedo Factory:

A brief history...

Built in 1918 as a waterfront factory for the manufacture of torpedo shell casings and later torpedoes. The green 9920 MK-14, displayed in the main hall, stands as a tribute to the building's history and the Art Center's namesake.

After World War II the Federal Government used the complex as storage for objects as diverse as archives from the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials to dinosaur bones from the Smithsonian.

The City of Alexandria bought the complex of buildings in 1969, however it remained unoccupied until 1974 when Marian Van Landingham, founder and first director of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, proposed the use of the two smaller buildings as an art center. A minimal renovation fund was authorized by the City Council in May of that year and the job was begun - teams of artist volunteers and city personnel - removing the debris of 55 years. On September 15, 1974, the Torpedo Factory Art Center opened its doors to the public.

In 1978 the City again requested proposals for development of the entire waterfront complex, with the Art Center to be part of the plan. Washington architects, Keyes, Condon and Florance, in conjunction with Girard Engineering designed the Factory's renovation. Work began in 1982 and one year later a grand reopening celebration was held on May 20, 1983.

Today, the Torpedo Factory is a thriving art center where over 160 professional artists in individual or shared studios create, exhibit and sell their art. Yearly, new artists submit their work for a jury to review in hopes of being accepted. In addition, the Art Center is home to The Art League School, which offers their classes year-round. The City's Alexandria Archaeology Museum and Research Laboratory - where visitors can explore 5,000 years of history, in what is now known as the City of Alexandria - is located on the third floor. And, on the fourth floor accessed by the stairs, the Friends of the Torpedo Factory Art Center provide outreach programs to stimulate community art awareness.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is a working example of how the arts can revitalize a community, and serves as a prototype for visual arts facilities throughout the world.
(revised 4/02)