Photographs: Manhattan Project Work Area & General Work Floor
![This northwest corner of B&T Metals was where uranium rods were extruded for the Manhattan Project in 1943.]()
This northwest corner of B&T Metals was where uranium rods were extruded for the Manhattan Project in 1943.
![The area was pretty nondescript during our visit.]()
The area was pretty nondescript during our visit.
![Looking from the northwest corner to the work floor. Notice where the support beams had been sandblasted to remove leftover radiation.]()
Looking from the northwest corner to the work floor. Notice where the support beams had been sandblasted to remove leftover radiation.
![The northwest corner from the general work floor area.]()
The northwest corner from the general work floor area.
![This large wooden crate was tipped over in the Manhattan Project area.]()
This large wooden crate was tipped over in the Manhattan Project area.
![A closer look at the area where the secretive work took place.]()
A closer look at the area where the secretive work took place.
![Some sort of machine sat at the edge of the area.]()
Some sort of machine sat at the edge of the area.
![This large electrical panel was above the area where the Manhattan Project work took place.]()
This large electrical panel was above the area where the Manhattan Project work took place.
![A close look at some of the electrical switches.]()
A close look at some of the electrical switches.
![The roof area between the northwest corner of the factory and the general work floor.]()
The roof area between the northwest corner of the factory and the general work floor.
![Glass windows along the roof let light shine into the building.]()
Glass windows along the roof let light shine into the building.
![The general work floor just beyond the receiving office.]()
The general work floor just beyond the receiving office.
![Old rusted machinery filled the factory floor.]()
Old rusted machinery filled the factory floor.
![A large portion of the second floor that had collapsed.]()
A large portion of the second floor that had collapsed.
![Several large pieces of equipment were casualties of the collapse.]()
Several large pieces of equipment were casualties of the collapse.
![A look at the collapse from another angle.]()
A look at the collapse from another angle.
![A section of ceiling near the collapse zone.]()
A section of ceiling near the collapse zone.
![This room appeared to be some sort of storage area.]()
This room appeared to be some sort of storage area.
![One of the large support beams was broken. The only thing holding up the ceiling was a large metal pipe.]()
One of the large support beams was broken. The only thing holding up the ceiling was a large metal pipe.
![Some of the equipment on the work floor. Hopefully the beer was consumed after abandonment!]()
Some of the equipment on the work floor. Hopefully the beer was consumed after abandonment!
![Paint chips and dust littered the old work areas.]()
Paint chips and dust littered the old work areas.
![One of several large tank-like pieces of equipment. Perhaps this is where extrusion occurred.]()
One of several large tank-like pieces of equipment. Perhaps this is where extrusion occurred.
![Long wooden rods were stored under these stairs, next to some rusted machinery.]()
Long wooden rods were stored under these stairs, next to some rusted machinery.
![Large holes in the ceiling allowed rainwater to enter the facility.]()
Large holes in the ceiling allowed rainwater to enter the facility.
![We believe this may have been a saw to cut the wooden rods.]()
We believe this may have been a saw to cut the wooden rods.
![Several areas had overhead ventilation hoods.]()
Several areas had overhead ventilation hoods.
![Some old machinery under one of the hoods.]()
Some old machinery under one of the hoods.
![Miscellaneous items were piled in front of an loading door.]()
Miscellaneous items were piled in front of an loading door.
![An old rusted scale near the loading door.]()
An old rusted scale near the loading door.
![An old machine with the labels "Walker Turner" and "Radial."]()
An old machine with the labels "Walker Turner" and "Radial."
![Various items were left on the shelves.]()
Various items were left on the shelves.
![Shelves full of spare parts and other items.]()
Shelves full of spare parts and other items.
![Some type of strange deposits hung from the ceiling.]()
Some type of strange deposits hung from the ceiling.
![Inside one of the tank-like pieces of equipment.]()
Inside one of the tank-like pieces of equipment.
![A small section of the warehouse was roped off.]()
A small section of the warehouse was roped off.
![A look back toward the area where the Manhattan Project work took place.]()
A look back toward the area where the Manhattan Project work took place.
![Machinery hanging from the ceiling.]()
Machinery hanging from the ceiling.
![This appeared to be some sort of press.]()
This appeared to be some sort of press.
![This machine had a small conveyor belt.]()
This machine had a small conveyor belt.
![A different angle of the press machine.]()
A different angle of the press machine.
![An old fire hose on one of the columns.]()
An old fire hose on one of the columns.
![This old desk was on the work floor.]()
This old desk was on the work floor.
![A storage barrell sat next to the desk and behind an old car.]()
A storage barrell sat next to the desk and behind an old car.
![There were several storage tanks of some sort suspended from the ceiling.]()
There were several storage tanks of some sort suspended from the ceiling.
![The general work floor area.]()
The general work floor area.
![All of these braces and support beams were holding up the ceiling and wall near the collapse zone.]()
All of these braces and support beams were holding up the ceiling and wall near the collapse zone.
![Electrical control panels.]()
Electrical control panels.
![The entry to the men's locker room.]()
The entry to the men's locker room.
![There were a couple of round sinks and a few rows of rusted shut lockers in the locker room.]()
There were a couple of round sinks and a few rows of rusted shut lockers in the locker room.
![The wall of the men's locker room had a large hole that looked to the outside.]()
The wall of the men's locker room had a large hole that looked to the outside.
![From the locker room looking back toward the general work floor.]()
From the locker room looking back toward the general work floor.
![Some of the rusted lockers.]()
Some of the rusted lockers.
![A large machine of some type near the work floor office area.]()
A large machine of some type near the work floor office area.
![We thought these resembled prison doors.]()
We thought these resembled prison doors.
![This machine was in between the bars.]()
This machine was in between the bars.
![An OES member checking out some of the old machinery.]()
An OES member checking out some of the old machinery.
![This machine was made by The Smith & Mills Company from Cincinnati.]()
This machine was made by The Smith & Mills Company from Cincinnati.
![A few spare parts remained in a storage cage.]()
A few spare parts remained in a storage cage.
![The work area in the southeast section of the building.]()
The work area in the southeast section of the building.
![Several plastic buckets were in this corner, along with a large storage unit.]()
Several plastic buckets were in this corner, along with a large storage unit.
![This machine looked a bit complicated.]()
This machine looked a bit complicated.
![A look at the other side of the machine.]()
A look at the other side of the machine.
![Another drill press and a saw.]()
Another drill press and a saw.
![Several metal rods in storage. Hopefully none of them were uranium rods!]()
Several metal rods in storage. Hopefully none of them were uranium rods!
![A work bench with a clock frozen in time.]()
A work bench with a clock frozen in time.
![This area was near a large boiler tank.]()
This area was near a large boiler tank.
![What appeared to be a large air compressor.]()
What appeared to be a large air compressor.
![This large tank was on an elevated platform.]()
This large tank was on an elevated platform.
![This machine had a large wheel.]()
This machine had a large wheel.
Photographs: Restrooms, Upper Floors, Misc. & OES Team
![This restroom was in the north-central part of the building. It looked like more paint was on the floor than on the wall.]()
This restroom was in the north-central part of the building. It looked like more paint was on the floor than on the wall.
![Another restroom was located in the south-central section of the building.]()
Another restroom was located in the south-central section of the building.
![A couple of urinals filled with paint chips.]()
A couple of urinals filled with paint chips.
![Some sewage remained in the toilet bowl.]()
Some sewage remained in the toilet bowl.
![These stairs in the west part of the building led to the second floor.]()
These stairs in the west part of the building led to the second floor.
![This is what was left of the second floor above the main work floor.]()
This is what was left of the second floor above the main work floor.
![All of the roof in this part of the building had collapsed some time ago.]()
All of the roof in this part of the building had collapsed some time ago.
![Support beams for the roof stood bare.]()
Support beams for the roof stood bare.
![The second floor had plenty of windows to allow light in, but they were not needed now.]()
The second floor had plenty of windows to allow light in, but they were not needed now.
![Another look at the second floor carnage. Notice the old 1930s-40s style lighting fixtures laying on the floor.]()
Another look at the second floor carnage. Notice the old 1930s-40s style lighting fixtures laying on the floor.
![The main office entrance for B&T Metals was along the north side of the building.]()
The main office entrance for B&T Metals was along the north side of the building.
![This door once opened to Town Street from the main office stairwell.]()
This door once opened to Town Street from the main office stairwell.
![This stairway to the main offices was pretty dangerous.]()
This stairway to the main offices was pretty dangerous.
![We carefully went up the stairs to see the main office.]()
We carefully went up the stairs to see the main office.
![The view of the main office area from the top of the stairs.]()
The view of the main office area from the top of the stairs.
![This large gap in the wall was from the 2004 collapse.]()
This large gap in the wall was from the 2004 collapse.
![The other side of the main office area. Notice the large hole in the floor.]()
The other side of the main office area. Notice the large hole in the floor.
![There was a pretty nice view of downtown Columbus from the main office.]()
There was a pretty nice view of downtown Columbus from the main office.
![Looking up to the second floor from a hole in the southeast part of the building.]()
Looking up to the second floor from a hole in the southeast part of the building.
![The ceiling was a mangled mess.]()
The ceiling was a mangled mess.
![The second floor as seen from the top of the stairs near the center of the building.]()
The second floor as seen from the top of the stairs near the center of the building.
![A look at the collapsed section.]()
A look at the collapsed section.
![B&T Metals' stock room was on the second floor.]()
B&T Metals' stock room was on the second floor.
![There were lots of shelves in the second floor stock room.]()
There were lots of shelves in the second floor stock room.
![Items remained on the shelf, ready to be used.]()
Items remained on the shelf, ready to be used.
![Something told us this skylight wasn't originally there.]()
Something told us this skylight wasn't originally there.
![Perhaps this was the mailroom or small parts storage.]()
Perhaps this was the mailroom or small parts storage.
![Looking back past the stairs.]()
Looking back past the stairs.
![This old green chair was at the top of the stairs.]()
This old green chair was at the top of the stairs.
![One of the IBM parts manufactured by B&T Metals.]()
One of the IBM parts manufactured by B&T Metals.
![Some sort of machine in a maintenance area.]()
Some sort of machine in a maintenance area.
![This old office chair had seen better days.]()
This old office chair had seen better days.
![A list of words and their pronunciation.]()
A list of words and their pronunciation.
![This appeared to have been some sort of electrical control panel.]()
This appeared to have been some sort of electrical control panel.
![An old rusted storage cage that belonged to Central Alum.]()
An old rusted storage cage that belonged to Central Alum.
![A fan on the floor, never to be used again.]()
A fan on the floor, never to be used again.
![This old typewriter was long the west wall.]()
This old typewriter was long the west wall.
![A pink storage barrel full of trash.]()
A pink storage barrel full of trash.
![An old fire extinguisher sat nearby.]()
An old fire extinguisher sat nearby.
![The skeleton of an office chair was on top of a work bench.]()
The skeleton of an office chair was on top of a work bench.
![Several exit signs and a pile of rusted nails.]()
Several exit signs and a pile of rusted nails.
![Old user manuals on a clipboard.]()
Old user manuals on a clipboard.
![An electrical panel near the southern wall.]()
An electrical panel near the southern wall.
![A large industrial heater hung from the ceiling.]()
A large industrial heater hung from the ceiling.
![Several old fire extinguishers in the roped-off area.]()
Several old fire extinguishers in the roped-off area.
![A single old shoe sat on a work bench.]()
A single old shoe sat on a work bench.
![There was a box full of these bars made by Schaffner.]()
There was a box full of these bars made by Schaffner.
![An old shopping cart that was probably used to haul items around the building.]()
An old shopping cart that was probably used to haul items around the building.
![This old wooden chair didn't seem stable enough to sit on.]()
This old wooden chair didn't seem stable enough to sit on.
![A candle holder in one of the storage cabinets.]()
A candle holder in one of the storage cabinets.
![A box of some sort of chemical or ink.]()
A box of some sort of chemical or ink.
![This sign marked a turn in an aisle.]()
This sign marked a turn in an aisle.
![Hundreds of these caps were scattered about this work area.]()
Hundreds of these caps were scattered about this work area.
![This was a really nice leather chair at one time.]()
This was a really nice leather chair at one time.
![An old bottle of carbon tetrachloride. It was widely used in fire extinguishers, as a cleaning agent, and a precursor to refrigerants.]()
An old bottle of carbon tetrachloride. It was widely used in fire extinguishers, as a cleaning agent, and a precursor to refrigerants.
![This chart showed the hardness values of various metals.]()
This chart showed the hardness values of various metals.
![It looked like this electrical switch was pieced together as needed.]()
It looked like this electrical switch was pieced together as needed.
![A rusted sprocket sat on a stool.]()
A rusted sprocket sat on a stool.
![Several old sinks on a table were waiting to be used again.]()
Several old sinks on a table were waiting to be used again.
![An old 1930s-40s style light in a hallway.]()
An old 1930s-40s style light in a hallway.
![This dolly and Oasis water fountain was just outside a pair of restrooms.]()
This dolly and Oasis water fountain was just outside a pair of restrooms.
![A newer fire extinguisher was mounted near the Manhattan Project work area.]()
A newer fire extinguisher was mounted near the Manhattan Project work area.
![Several office machines were stacked on a table.]()
Several office machines were stacked on a table.
![An old wooden gate next to the central stairs.]()
An old wooden gate next to the central stairs.
![The OES exploration team for the B&T Metals exploration.]()
The OES exploration team for the B&T Metals exploration.
![Three of our four members standing in the 2004 collapse zone.]()
Three of our four members standing in the 2004 collapse zone.
![The OES team on the central stairs.]()
The OES team on the central stairs.
![Our team wrapping up our exploration of B&T Metals.]()
Our team wrapping up our exploration of B&T Metals.
Video
![This clip shows a cabinet door mysteriously close on its own. B&T Metals: Door Closes]()
B&T Metals: Door Closes
This clip shows a cabinet door mysteriously close on its own.
![This one hour twenty-two minute video documents our exploration of the B&T Metals facility. B&T Metals: Exploration]()
B&T Metals: Exploration
This one hour twenty-two minute video documents our exploration of the B&T Metals facility.
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