Rock Island Arsenal

Rock Island Arsenal is a military complex on an island in the Mississippi between Iowa and Illinois that combines manufacturing facilities, museums, and administrative buildings. The installation stretches across the entire length of the island and includes dozens of historic structures alongside modern production halls.

The facility began in 1816 as a military outpost and developed during the 19th century into an important production site for weapons and equipment. It served as a detention camp during the Secession War before taking on its current role as a manufacturing center.

The site occupies an entire river island and features Greek Revival buildings standing among military workshops and administrative facilities. Staff and visitors move between historic brick structures still used for defense manufacturing today.

Guests without military identification need a visitor pass at the Moline Gate and must present a valid photo identity document. The island connects via bridges from both riverbanks, and the grounds can be explored on foot or by car.

The facility operates as the only Defense Department site with fully integrated manufacturing from components to finished products. This particularity makes the island a rare place where all steps of weapons production happen under one roof.