Henderson Walking Tour – Site 5
henderson, nv
Discription:
Henderson Walking Tour – Site 5: Magnesium Plant Memorial, Industry. (Henderson Historic Walking Tour Site Number Five: Industry.) Number Five in a series of five walking tour markers, or guideposts, on sidewalks in and around Henderson’s Water Street District. Each one has a title and gives a brief history of the particular surrounding area. Only three of them (one, three, and five) are specific to honoring Henderson’s contribution to the military and veterans. Groundbreaking for the Basic Magnesium Inc. (BMI) plant occurred on Sept. 15, 1941. During WWII BMI’s work was heralded as critical to the war effort. In July 1943, the plant reached a full production capacity of magnesium at 112 million pounds annually, and the Flying Fortress Memphis Belle with its original crew commentated the event. In Nov. 1944, the plant closed after producing more than 165 million pounds of magnesium.
Responcible Organization/Individual:
City of Henderson
Designed By:
City of Henderson
Address:
On the sidewalk in Henderson’s Water Street District.
GPS Coordinates:
Hours Available
Ceremonies: no
History:
At the heart of Henderson, the story is the Water Street District which began as the city’s original “Main Street” back in the 1940s. During World War II, the Basic Magnesium Plant was built in the desert between Boulder City and Las Vegas to supply the metal needed for munitions and airplane parts. A small town grew up to the house and supply the plant’s 14,000 employees When the war ended, the town almost ended also. In 1947, the federal government planned to sell the entire town as war surplus property. However, the Nevada Legislature wasn’t ready to give up and managed to save it. The town that refused to die was incorporated in 1953 with 13-square miles of land and about 7,400 residents. Today it has grown into Nevada’s second-largest city.