What do you know about the town of Nitro, West Virginia? It’s located along the Kanawha River in Kanawha and Putnam Counties. Several famous people have ties there: Lew Burdette, Kathy Mattea, Clark Gable, J.R. House. It’s a terminus of “Chemical Valley,” which was once the leading producer of chemicals in the world. And it has strong ties to World War I.

Nitro was built by the U.S. Government in 1917 specifically to produce gunpowder for World War I. ("Nitro" is short for nitrocellulose, the main ingredient in the gunpowder produced by the government facility there.)
City of Nitro/Facebook
The government recognized that America faced a critical shortage of gunpowder as the war continued, and thus authorized the construction of two plants, one in Nitro and one in Nashville, Tennessee, that could produce up to 700,000 pounds of gunpowder each in a single day. Scattered around town, including in the town museum, see remnants of the gunpowder production days.
Because the town's purpose was so tied to World War I, it quickly emptied once the war was over. In 1919, private investors bought the town from the U.S. Government for $8.5 million. Various new industries moved into the area.
City of Nitro/Facebook
Today, the town celebrates its history, appropriately billing itself as a "Living Memorial To World War I."

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Throughout the year they have special events associated with certain aspects of WWI and WWII, including various festivals and a horse ride.
City of Nitro/Facebook
During a normal year, Nitro's Living Memorial Park is a hopping place to be!
There's also plenty of fun to be had at the city's Ridenour Lake and the newly renovated city pool.
City of Nitro/Facebook
City of Nitro/Facebook
So if you haven't been, look into exploring this living piece of history soon!

To learn more about what’s happening in Nitro, visit the town’s Facebook page or website. And believe it or not, there are a few other hidden WWI gems scattered around the state, including this memorial to African American veterans of World War I.

 

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Nitro, WV, USA