Evansville designated an American World War II Heritage City by National Parks Service

Staff report
·2 min read

Evansville is among 18 cities designated as American World War II Heritage Cities by the National Parks Service this week.

The program "honors the contributions of local towns, cities, counties and their citizens who stepped into the workforce to support America's war effort during World War II."

According to the parks service, only one American World War II Heritage City can be designated in each state.

During World War II, Evansville became a war production powerhouse. The Navy opened a shipyard here and built hundreds of Landing Ship Tanks, LSTs. Republic Aviation built a plant and constructed more than 6,600 P-47 airplanes at what would later become the Whirlpool factory.

A photo of President Roosevelt visiting Evansville on April 27, 1943. Roosevelt toured Republic Aviation Corporation Plant, which manufactured the P-47 Thunderbolt planes. This photo shows the president riding through the plant with Secret Service agents walking along side the car.
A photo of President Roosevelt visiting Evansville on April 27, 1943. Roosevelt toured Republic Aviation Corporation Plant, which manufactured the P-47 Thunderbolt planes. This photo shows the president riding through the plant with Secret Service agents walking along side the car.

Factories all over the city grabbed up government contracts for whatever war products they could build. Evansville's Chrysler plant, for instance, switched production from Plymouth cars to ammunition. It's estimated the plant made 96 percent of the .45-caliber ammunition in the United States over two years.

“Leading up to America’s entrance into the war, Evansville’s leaders across all sectors came together to coordinate an effort to boost defense production in the city, turning it into a hub for manufacturing ships, airplanes, and weaponry in support of our troops,” Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke said in a news release. “Citizens of all ages likewise contributed of their time, finances, and talents to do their part in ensuring victory. Everyone came together in Evansville throughout World War II on every front, and everyone together made a difference in the outcome of the war.”

The 17 other newly designated communities are:

  • East Hartford, Connecticut

  • Pensacola and Escambia counties, Florida

  • Savannah and Chatham counties, Georgia

  • Wichita, Kansas

  • New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Springfield, Massachusetts

  • Pascagoula, Mississippi

  • Lewistown, Montana

  • Paterson, New Jersey

  • Los Alamos County, New Mexico

  • Montgomery County (City of Dayton), Ohio

  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Oak Ridge, Tennessee

  • South Texas Bend area and Corpus Christi, Texas

  • Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and West Richland), Washington

  • Manitowoc, Wisconsin

  • Casper and Natrona counties, Wyoming

Wilmington, North Carolina, received the inaugural designation in 2020.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville designated an American World War II Heritage City