Landmarks designation

The American Chemical Society designated the production of aluminum by electrochemistry in Oberlin, Ohio, a National Historic Chemical Landmark on September 17, 1997. The plaque commemorating the event reads:

On February 23, 1886, in his woodshed laboratory at the family home on East College Street, Charles Martin Hall succeeded in producing aluminum metal by passing an electric current through a solution of aluminum oxide in molten cryolite. Aluminum was a semiprecious metal before Hall’s discovery of this economical method to release it from its ore. His invention, which made this light, lustrous, and nonrusting metal readily available, was the basis of the aluminum industry in North America.

The American Chemical Society designated the commercialization of the Hall aluminum process in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a National Historic Chemical Landmark on November 2, 2001. The plaque commemorating the event reads:

In 1886 Charles Martin Hall invented an economical electrochemical process to release aluminum from its ore. Until then, this light, lustrous and non-rusting metal was rare and costly. A group of Pittsburgh investors, headed by metallurgist Alfred E. Hunt, agreed to support the commercialization of Hall's process and founded the Pittsburgh Reduction Company. In 1888 Hall, assisted by Arthur Vining Davis, began to produce aluminum in the company's pilot plant on Smallman Street. In 1907 the company became the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa). Aluminum has since become part of everyday life with many uses—from teakettles in the early days, to aircraft, power lines, building materials, food packaging, and artwork.