AA-38 Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26
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AA-38 Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26 Architectural Survey File This is the architectural survey file for this MIHP record. The survey file is organized reverse- chronological (that is, with the latest material on top). It contains all MIHP inventory forms, National Register nomination forms, determinations of eligibility (DOE) forms, and accompanying documentation such as photographs and maps. Users should be aware that additional undigitized material about this property may be found in on-site architectural reports, copies of HABS/HAER or other documentation, drawings, and the “vertical files” at the MHT Library in Crownsville. The vertical files may include newspaper clippings, field notes, draft versions of forms and architectural reports, photographs, maps, and drawings. Researchers who need a thorough understanding of this property should plan to visit the MHT Library as part of their research project; look at the MHT web site (mht.maryland.gov) for details about how to make an appointment. All material is property of the Maryland Historical Trust. Last Updated: 06-11-2004 AA-38 Nike Site W-26 (Annapolis-Bay Bridge) Bay Head Road/Broadneck Road Anne Arundel County Annapolis, Maryland Capsule Summary The Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26 is located on Broadneck Peninsula in Annapolis, Maryland. This site was one of 21 Nike batteries established to defend the Washington Baltimore area during the Cold War. The Nike antiaircraft missile system was conceived to defend against bombers carrying nuclear bombs. The Nike family of missiles included the Nike-Ajax and its more powerful successor, the Nike-Hercules. · The Annapolis emplacement operated between 1955 and 1968. This site was one of several sites in the Washington-Baltimore defense area to be converted to accommodate Hercules missiles. The battery contained 30 Ajax missiles and 18 Hercules missiles after it was converted during 1960 and 1961. All missiles were removed from the Annapolis-Bay Bridge site after it was deactivated in November 1968. Three years later, the launch area of Site W-26 was acquired by the Annapolis Detachment of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division. The structures at the launch site, including the missile silos, currently are utilized by NSWC, Annapolis as test laboratories. However, NSWC, Annapolis is scheduled to close by the year 2000. Consequently, the subterranean missile silos will be filled with concrete (Jeff Morris, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Annapolis Detachment, personal communication, 12 November 1996). The control area currently is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Reserve Map Distribution Center. The National Register eligibility was assessed for 23 buildings and structures at Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26. Nineteen buildings and structures are located at the launch area, and four buildings are located at the control area. The resources were evaluated within their appropriate historic context by applying the National Register criteria considerations and DoD guidance for exceptional significance for resources less than 50 years of age. None of the surveyed buildings and structures at this site posses significance or those qualities of integrity necessary for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Survey No. AA-38 ''''"' '"''r\•Tr'"'1y QF • • MAR YL P. J I ; ' : ''i ' ,' :\ I Magi No. Maryland H1stoncal Trust ·.i.us•r;::-·"' ~-.'":::-::-;- =-s 1 no State Historic Sites Inventory torllt ·'" r, .. __ \llC- DOE _yes 1. Name {indicate preferred name} historic Site W-26 (Annapolis-Bay Bridge) and/or common Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26 2. Location street & number Bay Head Road __ not for publication city, town Annapolis __ vicinity of congressional district state Mary land county Anne Arundel 3. Classification Category Ownership Status Present Use _x_ district __ public __x_ occupied __ agriculture __ museum __ building(s) __J(__ private __ unoccupied __ commercial __ park __ structure _both __ work in progress _ educational __ private residence __ site Public Acquisition Accessible __ entertainment __ religious _object __ in process __x_ yes: restricted __ government __ scientific __ being considered _yes: unrestricted __ industrial __ transportation _x_not applicable __ no _x_ military __ other: 4. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of ~ owners) name U.S. Department of the Navy street & number Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Div telephone no·: N/ A city, town Bethesda state and zip code Mary 1 and 20084 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. liber street & number folio city, town state 6. Representation in Existing Historica.1 surveys title N/ A date __ federal __ state __ county __ local pository for survey records city, town state 7. Description Survey No. AA-38 Condition Check one Check one __ excellent __ deteriorated __ unaltered __ original site x_good __ ruins __ altered __ moved date of move __ fair __ unexposed Prepare both a summary paragraph and a general description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today. See Attatched Sheets. 8. Significance Survey No. AA-38 Period •lreas of Significance-Check and justify below __ prehistoric __ archeology-prehistoric __ community planning __ landscape architecture __ religion _ 1400-1499 __ archeology-historic __ conservation __ law __ science ~500-1599 __ agriculture __ economics __ literature __ sculpture - 1600-1699 __x_ architecture __ education L military __ social/ _ 1700-1799 __ art __ engineering __ music humanitarian _ 1800-1899 __ commerce __ exploration/settlement __ philosophy __ theater _x_ 1900- __ communications __ industry __ politics/government __ transportation __ invention _other (specify) Specific dates Builder/Architect check: Applicable Criteria: ~A D and/or Applicable Exception: A B C D E F G Level of Significance: x._national state local Prepare both a summary paragraph of significance and a general statement of history and support. See Attatched Sheets. 9. Major Bibliographical References Survey No. AA-38 See Attatched Sheets. 1 O. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 4 7 .14 AC/8 AC Quadrangle name Gibson Isl and Quadrangle scale 1 • 24, 000 UTM References do NOT complete UTM references AL.i.J I I 1 I sw I I I I I I I I I I Zone Easting Zone Easting Northing cL.LJ ~I~--- oL.i.J I I I I E L..i_J .__I....___.. _____ _ F LLI I I I G Li.J .__I............ ___ _ H LJ..j I Verbal boundary description and justification Nike site W-26 is located on Broadneck Peninsula in the vicinity of Cape St. Claire. The missile site comprises a launch area and a control area. The launch is located on Bay Head Road. Located 1.1 miles west of the launch area is the control area, which is 8r.1AV\if ~a'tti iffd ~~~i.cti&Efscfb,l)M,~~rties overlapping state or county boundaries state code county code state code county code 11. Form Prepared By name/title Lori 0. Thursby. Architectural Historian organization R. Christopher Goodwin & Assoc., Inc. date 21 February 1997 street&number 241 E. Fourth St. Ste. 100 telephone 301-694-04 28 city or town Frederick state Maryland The Maryland Historic Sites Inventory was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement. The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights. - .,.. return to: Maryland Historical riist Shaw House lC.-. 21 State C · e Cf.;(),,:,_, - Annapo ·s, Maryland 21401 (3 269-2438 PS-2746 MHT No. AA-38 Nike Site W-26 (Annapolis-Bay Bridge) Anne Arundel County Section 7.1 Project Location and Description Summary The Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26 is located on Broadneck Peninsula in the vicinity of Cape St. Claire. The missile site comprises a launch area and a control area. The 24-ac launch area, located on Bay Head Road, contains 19 buildings and structures associated with the execution of the missile launch, including missile magazines, missile assembly and maintenance buildings, storage and fueling sheds, barracks, and sentry houses. The eight-ac control area is located approximately 1.1 mi west of the launch area, off Broadneck Road. An administration building, a barracks, a pump house, and a mess hall constitute the control area. Architectural Resources at Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26 Currently, Annapolis-Bay Bridge Nike Missile Site W-26 is comprised of 23 buildings and structures: 19 of these are at the launch area, and four are at the control area. The contracting company Drummond & Co., Inc., from Pikesville, Maryland, constructed Site W-26 in 1955 (NSWC, Annapolis, Facilities Engineers Office, Construction Drawings). The buildings and structures followed the Army's standard plans for MEC construction. The following sections provide a summary of the extant resources at the launch and control areas of Annapolis-Bay Bridge Site W-26. Included in the discussion is a description of each resource's character-defining features, physical condition, and function. Launch Area The launch area is located east of Bay Head Road and north of U.S. Route 50. Located on the west side of Bay Head Road is a 1980s residential subdivision; when the installation was constructed in 1955, it was surrounded by farms and vacant lands. The polygon-shaped 24-ac site is enclosed entirely by a wire fence that is topped with barbed wire. The installation is screened on the north, south, and east sides by tall, deciduous trees; the west side of the site is defined by Bay Head Road, which provides access to the site at two gates.