Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Military ammunition production facility in Sumpter, Wisconsin, US
The Badger Army Ammunition Plant is a military ammunition production facility located in Sumpter, Wisconsin, comprising numerous manufacturing buildings spread across extensive prairie land. These structures are connected by an elaborate system of railroad tracks that once moved materials throughout the site.
Construction began in 1942 following President Roosevelt's authorization, with the facility producing ammunition propellants to support military operations during World War II and beyond. The plant continued operations through the Korean War and Vietnam War eras, serving as a crucial manufacturing center for decades.
The land holds deep meaning for the Ho-Chunk Nation, whose ancestors inhabited this area since the ice age before European settlement arrived in the 1840s. Visitors can learn about this connection through the stories and knowledge shared by the local community.
The site can be explored through guided tours organized by the Badger History Group, where visitors learn about manufacturing operations from exhibits and artifacts. Before visiting, check which areas are accessible and what walking conditions to expect across the grounds.
Part of the former railroad network has been converted into the Great Sauk State Trail, a pathway that runs through the historic grounds. Meanwhile, the USDA Dairy Forage Research Center uses portions of the land for agricultural research, blending the site's military past with its agricultural present.
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