SAME Rock Island Post/ASCE QC Chapter Joint Tour of the Historic Rock Island Arsenal Hydroelectric Plant
Join us on May 21 for a unique opportunity to tour the historic Rock Island Arsenal Hydroelectric Plant.
Lunch will be held at the Island Oasis beginning at 11:45 a.m., followed by the hydroelectric plant tour at 1:00 p.m.
Located along the Mississippi River’s Sylvan Slough, the Rock Island Arsenal Hydroelectric Plant has provided renewable energy to the installation since 1901. The facility currently supplies approximately 20–30% of the island’s electrical power and remains an important part of the Arsenal’s manufacturing operations. As one of the Army’s oldest operating hydroelectric facilities, the plant combines historic engineering with modern energy resilience initiatives.
Event Highlights
Information on site access and visiting the Rock Island Arsenal is located here: Welcome to the Rock Island Arsenal
Lunch Location: Island Oasis, 11:45
Tour Location: RIA Hydroelectric Power Plant and Dam, South shore of Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, along Sylvan Slough, 1:00 PM
Photo courtesy of link above. Photo credit: US ARMY
Established: Current plant completed in 1901, with expansions in 1903 and 1919
Power Generation: Produces a significant portion of the installation’s electricity
Energy Resilience: Integrated into a modernized microgrid that includes hydroelectric, natural gas, and solar energy systems
Historic Significance: Part of the Rock Island Arsenal National Register Historic District and continues to support Army manufacturing missions today
We look forward to seeing you there for this behind-the-scenes look at a historic and still-active piece of Army and engineering history.