FReeper Canteen ~ Road Trip: Watervliet Arsenal, New York ~ 25 AUG 2026

Serving The Best Troops, Families, And Veterans In The World!! | The Canteen Crew

[laurenmarlowe]

 

 

~The FReeper Canteen Presents~

Road Trip: Watervliet Arsenal, New York

The Watervliet Arsenal is an arsenal of the United States Army located in Watervliet, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River. It is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States, and today produces much of the artillery for the army, as well as gun tubes for cannons, mortars, and tanks. It has been a National Historic Landmark since 1966.

The arsenal was founded on July 14, 1813 to support the War of 1812, and was designated as the Watervliet Arsenal in 1817. It occupies 142 acres of land, approximately 8 miles north of Albany, New York. The location is adjacent to the Hudson River. The site contains manufacturing, administrative offices and storage areas. It also houses the Army's Benét Laboratories, which does product development, improvement, research, and testing.

Nearly 70 years after the arsenal produced its first products, it gained national prominence when it became the Army's first large caliber cannon manufacturer in the late 1880s. During this period, production changed from the manufacturing of saddles and gun carriages to cannons. Remnants of this period are still in operation today, as evidenced by the continued use of historic Building 110, "The Big Gun Shop," for manufacturing missions. This gun shop once produced 16-inch guns and many other weapons for the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps.

Built in 1889, the quarter-mile-long 'Big Gun Shop' is the arsenal's oldest manufacturing facility. The building earned its name by being home to 16-inch seacoast and battleship gun production. The arsenal's big guns were used in every conflict from the Spanish American War through the Persian Gulf War.

Major cannon work ceased during the drawdowns of the 1990s resulting in machines being removed and cannon work shifting to other buildings. Since then, the building has been primarily used for minor work including paint, preservation and composites. A large portion of the facility was left unutilized.

In response to increased workload demands, the arsenal is increasing production capacity making the 'Big Gun Shop' the perfect location to house new equipment on the 143-acre installation. The machines will perform a variety of manufacturing functions including turning operations, straightening and abrasive blasting.

Learn More About Watervliet Arsenal HERE!!

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. 

Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun!

We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity.

We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon.

We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way.

God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always

 

 

---

TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen

[SkyDancer]

~ Evening All! ~

~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[laurenmarlowe]

Good evening to you SkyDancer!

[PROCON]

Thanks for taking us on tonight’s Road Trip, Lauren! 🫡

[laurenmarlowe]

Howdy PROCON!

[radu]

Greetings to all at the Canteen!

To all our military men and women, past and present,

[radu]

Howdy, lauren. *HUGZ*

I hope today didn’t kick your butt as hard as last week.

[luvie]

~ Road Trip: Watervliet Arsenal, New York ~

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies' military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.

CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREADS

CLICK FOR Current local times around the world

CLICK FOR local times in Seoul, Baghdad, Kabul,
New York, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Anchorage

To every service man or woman reading this thread:

Thank You for your service to our country.
No matter where you are stationed,
No matter what your job description
Know that we are are proud of each and every one of you.

To our military readers, we remain steadfast
in keeping the Canteen doors open.

The FR Canteen is Free Republic's longest running
daily thread specifically designed to provide
entertainment and moral support for the military.
The doors have been open since Oct 7 2001,
the day of the start of the war in Afghanistan.

We are indebted to you for your sacrifices for our Freedom.

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[radu]

Howdy, luvie.

Home safe and sound, I assume. I can think of some kitties who are mighty happy this evening. >^..^<

[laurenmarlowe]

Howdy radu!

Spreadsheets, spreadsheets, spreadsheets. My life at the moment, all last week and the rest of this week. Necessary but soooooo tedious.

Hope you have a more fun week than I will, LOL!

[laurenmarlowe]

Good evening and thank you luvie!

*HUGS*

[luvie]

Sorry I was late. We just got home at about 6 and I crashed and burned. LOL!

Hope you have a good week!

[PROCON]

Hiya radu, how is the healing going and are the kittehs behavin'?

Nothing much happening my way.

[radu]

UGH!!! Sounds like sooooooo much fun. NOT!

I’m back to mowing again to scalp the grass short this time. Couldn’t go too short last week because it was just too long and thick after being neglected so long. Darn busted foot set me back on several things and I’m slowly catching up.

At least spreadsheets are keeping you inside where it’s cool. One plus anyway. :-)

[radu]

Howdy, PRO!

Have a good time with your son last evening?

The healing’s moving along pretty well. Home PT is doing it’s job.

The kittehs are behaving at the moment but it never lasts. LOL I enjoy the quiet when it comes along.

[SkyDancer]

~ Evening All! ~

~

~ Welcome To My World ~

I’m Down There Somewhere

[SkyDancer]

Yeah Hi!!

[left that other site]

Hi Everybody!

(((HUGS)))

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday evening and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all lir military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country and thanks Lauren for this evening's thread.

Yesterday morning at the lake:

On a little early as our ISP is doing maintenance tonight from midnight to 6 AM our time tonight. We did have some fires in the area by no evacuation of our town. One of our neighboring towns, Velma did have an evacuation though due to a fire getting close to their town.

How's everyone doing this evening?

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C. ((HUGZ))

Sounds like an eventful day in your area yesterday. Glad to hear no fires were close enough to y’all to make you need to head out!