Amarillo Helium Plant

 historic landmark, helium plant

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This plant, once operated by the United States Bureau of Mines, was the first to produce helium from the extensive helium resources in the Texas Panhandle. From 1929 until 1943, it furnished almost all of the world’s supply of helium. Operating around the clock, the plant extracted helium by liquefying the natural gas and separating helium from it at temperatures 300 degrees below zero. The natural reserves in the fields and in extensions into adjacent states contain more than 95 percent of the world’s known supply of helium. This was also the site of the world renowned research center which provided fundamental data on the production and uses of helium. Helium is used for a variety of purposes: lighter-than-air craft, low-temperature research, shielded-arc welding; and in national defense, nuclear energy programs and space exploration.

Closure of the Amarillo plant began in 1998. The site was declared surplus property in 2006 the General Services Administration. It was auctioned in 2007 and remains privately owned by Amarillo Natural Gas and awaits rehabilitation.

www.preservationtexas.org/endangered/amarillo-helium-pl...