The Torpedo Factory Art Center

105 N. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-4565

Alexandria Hotels

The Torpedo Factory Art Center is an art center located on the waterfront of the Potomac River.    It is home to more than 82 artists' studios, 6 galleries and two workshops, with some 165 professional visual artists who producing a diversity of artwork. The center attracts around 500,000 visitors annually.  Built in 1918 it served to manufacture, maintain and store torpedoes and munitions through World War II.  After World War II, production ceased and it was used throughout the 1950s and 1960s by the Smithsonian and the Congress for storage.  In 1969, the factory was purchased by the City of Alexandria from the Federal Government for the development of an arts center.  The art center opened in 1974.   From 1982 to 1983, the building underwent further renovation being entirely gutted and rebuilt with a new ventilation system and central heating.  It reopened on M ay 20, 1983. Open:10am – 6pm* Daily 10am – 9pm* Thursdays (including Second Thursday Art Night event 6 - 9pm on the second Thursday of every month)  Studio and gallery hours vary.  Torpedo Factory website