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Local historian urges preservation and tourism at Mars Bluff atomic bomb crater site
Summary
Steven Smith (Henricus College) urged council to recognize and help preserve the Mars Bluff crater site created by the 1958 'Broken Arrow' incident, noting it is on private property but could be a local historical tourism asset.
Steven Smith, chancellor of Henricus College, used public comment to recount the 1958 Mars Bluff 'Broken Arrow' incident when the non‑nuclear portion of a U.S. weapon fell and created a large crater near Mars Bluff. Smith said the crater remains on private land and is not easily accessible, but local commemorations (including a 50th‑anniversary event) have drawn attention to the site’s history and tourism potential.
Smith explained civil‑defense context and suggested educational/tourism uses to mark the event and draw visitors. He described the crater's dimensions and damage in historical terms and encouraged interested residents and officials to contact him for pamphlets or follow‑up after the meeting.
