US Army 15-Inch Rodman at “Fort Massachusetts” on Ship Island
A US Army 15-Inch Rodman is displayed at “Fort Massachusetts” on Ship Island, Mississippi. It was manufactured at Fort Pitt Foundry in 1865 and is registry number 88. As manufactured, it weighed 49,475 pounds.
Many thanks to friend-of-the-page Bill Carpenter for sharing these photos of his visit to Ship Island!
US Navy 32-Pounders of 57 Hundredweight in Needham, Massachusetts
Four US Navy 32-Pounders of 57 Hundredweight are displayed as a unique monument in Nehoiden Cemetery in Needham, Massachusetts. A plaque on the display states that they were placed in 1902 by Post 181, Grand Army of the Republic. Bureau of Ordnance Records indicate that these four 32-Pounders were sent to the Boston Navy Yard after their 1848-1849 manufacture by Cyrus Alger & Company. There they remained in storage until loaned to Galen Orr Post 181 in Needham.
Many thanks to friend-of-the-page James Murray for sharing these photos!
US Army 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Two US Army 30-Pounder Parrott Rifles flank the Lackawanna County Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Many thanks to friend of the page James Murray for these photos!
US Navy 8-Inch Shell Gun of 63cwt in Vallejo, California
Many thanks to Rob of the YouTube channel Firearms Addict for sharing these photos!
US Navy 8-Inch Shell Gun of 63 Hundredweight Number 27 is displayed at the old gate to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California. It was manufactured at West Point Foundry in 1841. It is marked as weighing 63-2-23 in hundredweight (7,135 pounds). It was designed to fire an approximately 50-pound explosive shell with an up to 9 pound propellant charge. Bureau of Ordnance records show that it was mounted aboard the razee frigate USS Independence in 1852. A second example of the type may be seen directly across Tennessee Avenue.
US Navy 24-Pounder of 32 Hundredweight in Vallejo, California
Many thanks to Rob of the YouTube channel Firearms Addict for sharing these photos!
A US Navy 24-Pounder of 32-Hundredweight is displayed in Independence Park in Vallejo, California. The registry Number is 519. It was cast at Columbia Foundry in 1826. It’s weight is given in hundredweight as 31-2-10 (3,538 pounds).
US Navy 24-Pounder of 32 Hundredweight
Many thanks to Rob of the YouTube channel Firearms Addict for sharing these photos!
A US Navy 24-Pounder of 32-Hundredweight is displayed in Alden Park on Mare Island in California. I believe that it is Registry Number 52. The 24-Pounder Medium Cannon of 32 Hundredweight was manufactured to arm the Boston-class sloops of war built in the 1820s for the US Navy. A plaque states that it was carried aboard the frigate Independence
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 229 of USS Hartford in Vallejo, California
Many thanks to Rob of the YouTube Channel Firearms Addict for taking these photos!
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 229 was cast at Cyrus Alger and Company in 1858. It weighed 9,070 pounds as manufactured. According to US Navy records, it was placed aboard USS Hartford in 1859. It served with Hartford until 1887 when it was removed at Mare Island. It is displayed nearby in Independence Park on the waterfront in Vallejo, California.
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 228 of USS Hartford at Mare Island
Many thanks to Rob of the YouTube Channel Firearms Addict for taking these photos at Alden Park!
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren Number 228 was cast at Cyrus Alger and Company in 1858. It weighed 9,045 pounds as manufactured. According to US Navy records, it was placed aboard USS Hartford in 1859. It served with Hartford until 1887 when it was removed at Mare Island. It remains at Mare Island and is displayed there in Alden Park.
US Army 100-Pounder Parrott Rifles in Monson, Massachusetts
Two US Army 100-Pounder Parrott Rifles are displayed in Monson, Massachusetts.
These photos were originally posted to the Facebook Group “Big Cannon Project” by Tom Speight. They are reposted here with his permission.
US Navy 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer, Heavy, Number 155 in New Haven, Connecticut
US Navy 12-Pounder Boat Howitzer, Heavy, Number 155 of USS Sassacus is displayed in New Haven, Connecticut. It is one of four of the type displayed around a monument there. Many thanks to James Murray for taking these photos!
US Army 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles at the Presidio, California
Two US Army 8-Inch Muzzle Loading Rifles are displayed in Pershing Square at the Presidio of San Francisco, California. The Presidio has multiple US Army seacoast defense fortifications - the best known being Fort Point underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Many thanks to Rob from the YouTube Channel FirearmsAddict for these photos!
US Navy 9-Inch Dahlgren at NSWC Dahlgren
US Navy 9-Inch Dahglren Number 1006 is displayed at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division. These photos were taken by Haze Grey History in 2023. Many thanks for the permission to share them here. Number 1006 served aboard USS Brooklyn in the 1870s.
US Navy 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
Two US Navy 32-Pounders of 4,500 Pounds are displayed flanking a monument in front of the Wyoming County Courthouse in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. Many thanks to James Murray for these photos!
US Army 4.5-Inch Rifles and 8-Inch Mortars in Decatur, Illinois
The photos in this post were originally shared on Facebook to the group “Big Cannon Project by Krzysztof Kurylowicz. Many thanks to him for allowing their use here!
Two US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles and two US Army 8-Inch Siege Mortars are displayed in front of a monument in Decatur, Illinois. The monument lists the names of all those from Macon County who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles at Chatham Manor
Two US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifles are displayed at Chatham Manor on the Rappahannock River across from Fredericksburg. According to Olmstead et al., the two are:
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle, Pattern 1861, Number 81 manufactured at Fort Pitt Foundry in 1863. Weight as Manufactured 3,616 pounds.
US Army 4.5-Inch Siege Rifle, Pattern 1861, Unknown Number (damaged at muzzle).
The display of these two 4.5-Inch Rifles recalls a war time photo of a battery of three of the type limbered but in position overlooking Fredericksburg.
US Navy 12-Pounder Boat Howitzers at Manassas National Battlefield
Two US Navy 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzers, Heavy, are displayed at Manassas National Battlefield Park. The two howitzers are:
12-Pounder Boat Howitzer, Heavy, Number 45 manufactured by the Washington Navy Yard in 1856. Weight as manufactured was 757 pounds. Served aboard USS Lancaster.
12-Pounder Boat Howitzer, Heavy. Unknown. Nearly all markings have been polished off this howitzer, so nothing can be known of its place of manufacture, weight, or service.
US Navy 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer of USS Constitution in Downingtown, Pennsylvania
US Navy 12-Pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitzer, Heavy, Number 39 is displayed in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Many thanks to friend of the page James Murray for taking these photos!
Number 39 was cast in 1855 at the Washington Navy Yard. As originally cast it weighed 761 pounds. According to US Navy Records, it served aboard USS St. Lawrence and in 1877 aboard USS Constitution.
US Navy 8-Inch Bureau of Ordnance Shell Gun Number 26 at NSWC Dahlgren
A US Navy 8-Inch Bureau of Ordnance Shell Gun of 6,500 Pounds is displayed near Gate A at NSWC Dahlgren Division. These photos were taken by Haze Grey History in 2023. Many thanks for the permission to post them! The shell gun was cast by Fort Pitt Foundry in 1864. It is registry number 26 and weighed at manufacture 6,455 pounds. Bureau of Ordnance records show that it was one of ten guns of this type mounted aboard the cruiser USS Madawaska in July of 1866 (registry Numbers 26-35).
US Army 300-Pounder Parrott Rifle at Fort Jefferson
Ten of the largest Civil War era artillery pieces are displayed in the massive, remote, and beautiful Fort Jefferson on Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida. Many thanks to Mark Baker who shared these photos in comments and gave permission for their use.
The cut down Dahlgrens of Lee Hall
Two US Navy Dahlgren guns which were both eventually transferred to “Yards and Docks” are seen at Lee Hall in Newport News, Virginia. Photographs are by Haze Grey History - many thanks for the permission to use them! As is visible in the photos, a large portion of the chase of both guns has been removed. They are displayed beside a portable navy boiler.
The two guns are an 9-Inch Dahlgren cast in 1859 and a 8-Inch Bureau of Ordnance Shell Gun cast in 1867.