The Story
This 100-year-old building was once a munitions plant. Welcome to the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia!"
It all began right after World War I. The U.S. Navy built the Naval Torpedo Station here, where they made and maintained Mark III torpedoes.
In 1923, production stopped, and the facility was used for storage until World War II. At that time, they started making the Mark XIV torpedoes.
After the war, the building had a brief stint making rocket engine parts before being repurposed as a federal records center.
The City of Alexandria bought the building, and by 1974, it became the Torpedo Factory Art Center, thanks to the vision of local artists and community leaders.
"The building was transformed into a creative hub, offering affordable studio space for artists—a commitment that remains today."
Today, the Torpedo Factory is home to over 200 artists and continues to be the creative engine of the region.
