Ogden Arsenal

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Ogden Arsenal

Established in 1920 as Ogden Ordnance Reserve Depot to store excess ordnance from World War I. In 1920 a total of 1,410 acres were purchased for the facility and construction continued through 1923. Between 1923 and 1936 was used as a general storage depot because of reduced funding. In 1927 the designation was changed to Ogden Ordnance Depot.

April 30, 1920
"Proposed government depot near Ogden; Arsenal." (UP correspondence file index)

The Ogden Arsenal was the first major defense installation constructed in Utah during the 20th century. The Arsenal's construction marked Utah's first installation established to received, store, ship, manufacture, and repair war materiel.

Following World War I, the War Department decided to disperse munition to the west. Because of geography and rail facilities, Ogden seemed ideal. The U.S. Army Ordnance Department completed initial construction in October 1921; the Arsenal began storing munitions that same month. After only two years, as the possibility of war receded, the Arsenal sank into disuse. Then, in 1935, in response to the conquests of Axis powers in Europe and Asia, the Ordnance Department decided to rebuild the Arsenal into a major storage and manufacturing facility.

In 1936 the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Ogden Ordnance Depot, as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, included the expansion of the arsenal to include the manufacture as well as the storage of bombs, shells, and other ammunition. New buildings and ammunition magazines were built and many other improvements were made.

December 1937
Ogden Arsenal, military road, 13-1/2 miles long out in Utah, abandoned in 1922, has been rehabilitated and is now giving employment to civilian train crews, shopmen and maintenance men. Three 90-ton standard-gage locomotives are operated. There are two daily steam passenger trains and freights which are run as extras. -- C. H. Dietrick, Ogden Arsenal, Ogden, Utah. (Railroad Magazine, December 1937, page 128, courtesy of Thornton Waite, November 17, 2012)

In 1938 the Arsenal began the production of bombs and other munitions and construction of an air depot on the arsenal property.

During World War II, Arsenal employees loaded artillery shells and aerial bombs and linked small arms ammunition. Workers also received, stored, and shipped munitions; ordnance and transportation equipment; and parts, supplies, and tools to the western United States and the Pacific Theatre. The base reached an employment peak of 6,600 in 1942.

During World War II the Arsenal production greatly expanded to include various calibers of ammunition and bombs up to 2000 pounds. In 1942 the functions came to include the storage of combat ready vehicles and the Arsenal work force grew to 6,000 personnel.

After World War II, the Arsenal served as a collection point for serviceable materials and a disposition activity for war surplus. Employment declined to under 1,500. With the outbreak of the Korean War, employment again rose as workers manufactured munitions and supplied war material to American troops.

The Korean War gave the Arsenal new life and the production of mortar shells and hand grenades increased employment at the Arsenal to 3,000 employees. After the war in 1955 the Arsenal was combined with Hill Air Force Base and Army ordnance functions were moved to other locations.

After the end of the Korean War, the Army needed more space than the Arsenal location allowed, while the Air Force needed to expand nearby Hill Air Force Base (HAFB). The Army transferred most facilities to HAFB on April 1, 1955, and ordnance functions moved to Tooele Ordnance Depot.

More Information

Utah Historical Quarterly, Volume 33, Number 3, Summer 1965, "Ogden's Arsenal of Demoncracy, 1920-1955" (PDF; 13 pages; 3.5 MB)

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