Morton Sphere (Rosemount, Minnesota)

USA / Minnesota / Coates / Rosemount, Minnesota
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Built for the Gopher Ordnance Works.
Large spherical gas container for liquid petroleum.

It was later used as a storage tank for compressed air for a supersonic wind tunnel that had been built inside the oleum facility. Assembled in Rube Goldberg fashion from a hodge-podge of pipes, valves, and other materials salvaged from the site; powered by five surplus GOW compressors, the tunnel was capable of achieving velocities of up to 1,140 miles an hour; twice the speed of sound.

The University at one time painted it black with a large white "8", and called it the "8 Ball". Most of that paint has since worn off.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefied_petroleum_gas
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Coordinates:   44°43'38"N   93°3'5"W
This article was last modified 16 years ago