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Amalgamated Center, Pennsylvania
ANSWER: We're not going to lie—we just love the word "Amalgamated." The Philadelphia building was owned by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (now known as UNITE HERE), who expanded the existing community center. Though now used as mostly office space, the building was added to the registry in 2008. We're not going to lie—we just love the word "Amalgamated." The Philadelphia building was owned by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (now known as UNITE HERE), who expanded the existing community center. Though now used as mostly office space, the building was added to the registry in 2008.
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Labounty Site, Iowa
ANSWER: It may sound like an archaeological dig, but the Labounty site was instead once home to a veterinary pharmaceuticals company that leached volatile organic compounds and arsenic into the surrounding ground water before closing its doors in 1977. It may sound like an archaeological dig, but the Labounty site was instead once home to a veterinary pharmaceuticals company that leached volatile organic compounds and arsenic into the surrounding ground water before closing its doors in 1977.
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Scotia Chalk Building, Nebraska
ANSWER: According to the Nebraska Historical Society, the building is the only commercial building in the state of Nebraska made out of chalk rock—taken from nearby Happy Jack Chalk Mine. Built in 1887 as a general store, the site was added to the register in 1979. According to the Nebraska Historical Society, the building is the only commercial building in the state of Nebraska made out of chalk rock—taken from nearby Happy Jack Chalk Mine. Built in 1887 as a general store, the site was added to the register in 1979.
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Schofield Barracks, Hawaii
ANSWER: It's both! Technically a former Superfund site thanks to clean-up efforts, the military base once held high levels of trichloroethylene in its well water and was first listed in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It's both! Technically a former Superfund site thanks to clean-up efforts, the military base once held high levels of trichloroethylene in its well water and was first listed in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
ANSWER: It's both! Technically a former Superfund site thanks to clean-up efforts, the military base once held high levels of trichloroethylene in its well water and was first listed in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It's both! Technically a former Superfund site thanks to clean-up efforts, the military base once held high levels of trichloroethylene in its well water and was first listed in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
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Stieff Silver Company Factory, Maryland
ANSWER: From 1892 to 1999, the Stieff Company produced sterling silverware in Baltimore. The factory was added to the registry the next year. From 1892 to 1999, the Stieff Company produced sterling silverware in Baltimore. The factory was added to the registry the next year.
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Leadville National Fish Hatchery, Colorado
ANSWER: Leadville is the second oldest Federally operated fish hatchery in the United States. Originally opened in 1889, it is used largely for production of trout, and was added to the register in 1980. Leadville is the second oldest Federally operated fish hatchery in the United States. Originally opened in 1889, it is used largely for production of trout, and was added to the register in 1980.
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Brierfield Furnace, Alabama
ANSWER: Brierfield Furnace is the site of a Confederate ironworks used for munitions in the Civil War. The furnace would change hands after the war before landing on the register in 1974. Brierfield Furnace is the site of a Confederate ironworks used for munitions in the Civil War. The furnace would change hands after the war before landing on the register in 1974.
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Smuggler Mountain, Colorado
ANSWER: Get that image of fur trappers out of your head—this site was used for lead and silver mines between 1879 and 1920, and the contaminant level shows it. Groundwater and soil are both contaminated, so it may not be the best place for a tomato garden. Get that image of fur trappers out of your head—this site was used for lead and silver mines between 1879 and 1920, and the contaminant level shows it. Groundwater and soil are both contaminated, so it may not be the best place for a tomato garden.
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Fort Wainwright, Alaska
ANSWER: While it may sound like an early military outpost in Alaska, the site has actually been a Superfund site since 1990, with contaminants including waste oil, waste fuel, fuel tank sludge, lead, mercury, and other not-so-healthy chemical cocktails. Some areas of the base have even caused lasting nerve damage to workers. While it may sound like an early military outpost in Alaska, the site has actually been a Superfund site since 1990, with contaminants including waste oil, waste fuel, fuel tank sludge, lead, mercury, and other not-so-healthy chemical cocktails. Some areas of the base have even caused lasting nerve damage to workers.
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Gallaway Pits, Tennessee
A one-time site for mining sand and gravel, the resultant water pits became a site for illegal dumping of hazardous chemicals. The site was officially taken off the national priorities list in 1996 after successful efforts to remove the hazardous chemicals, which included solid waste, pesticides, and random debris.
