Directory of National Historic Chemical Landmarks

Landmarks are organized by year of designation.

YearLandmark
2024

Chemical Hearth

2023Bettye Washington Greene, Ph.D.
Science History Institute
Marie Maynard Daly
Insulin Development and Commercialization
2022The Invention of Warfarin
Discovery of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV
George Eastman, Kodak, and the Birth of Consumer Photography
Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry
Raney® Nickel: A Life-Changing Catalyst
Ames Laboratory and Uranium Production in World War II
2021Saul Hertz and the Medical Uses of Radioiodine
Birth of the Petrochemical Industry
2020No designations
2019St. Elmo Brady, the First African-American Ph.D. in Chemistry
Steroid Medicines and Upjohn
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
2018Plutonium-238 Production for Space Exploration
2017Infrared Spectrometer and the Exploration of Mars
Chlorofluorocarbons and Ozone Depletion
2016Discovery of Ivermectin
The Vitamin B Complex
Willard Libby and Radiocarbon Dating 
2015Edwin Land and Instant Photography
Isolation of Phytochrome
The Keeling Curve: Studies of Atmospheric CO2 at Mauna Loa
Kelly Pneumatic Iron Process
2014Thomas Edison, Chemist
I. M. Kolthoff and Modern Analytical Chemistry
Rachel Holloway Lloyd, Pioneer American Woman in Chemistry
2013Flavor Chemistry Research at the USDA
Mellon Institute of Industrial Research at Carnegie Mellon University

Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry at Purdue University
2012DayGlo Fluorescent Pigments
Legacy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
2011NMR and MRI: Applications in Chemistry and Medicine
2010Discovery of Fullerenes
Development of Diagnostic Test Strips
2009Deciphering the Genetic Code
Development of the Pennsylvania Oil Industry
2008Acrylic Emulsion Technology
Production and Distribution of Radioisotopes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Production of Penicillin through Deep-tank Fermentation
2007Chemistry at Jamestown
Scotch Transparent Tape
Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
Food Dehydration Technology
2006Tide Synthetic Detergent
Development of Baking Powder
Neil Bartlett and the Reactive Noble Gases
2005Columbia Dry Cell Battery
Selman Waksman and Antibiotics
George Washington Carver: Chemist, Teacher, Symbol
2004Carl and Gerty Cori and Carbohydrate Metabolism
Cotton Products Research
Development of the Beckman pH Meter
2003High Performance Carbon Fibers
Foundations of Polymer Science: Herman Mark and the Polymer Research Institute
Discovery of Camptothecin and Taxol
2002Frozen Foods Research: Time-Temperature Tolerance Studies
Alice Hamilton and the Development of Occupational Medicine
Noyes Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Albert Szent-Györgyi and the Discovery of Vitamin C
Norbert Rillieux and a Revolution in Sugar Processing
2001National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
John W. Draper and the Founding of the American Chemical Society, 1876
Charles Herty and the Savannah Pulp and Paper Laboratory
Hall Process: Production and Commercialization of Aluminum
2000Foundations of Polymer Science: Wallace Carothers and the Development of Nylon
Nucleic Acid and Protein Research at Rockefeller University
Joseph Priestley: Discoverer of Oxygen (Bowood House)
Moses Gomberg and Organic Free Radicals
Discovery of Helium in Natural Gas
Smith Memorial Collection at the University of Pennsylvania
Discovery of Transuranium Elements at Berkeley Lab
1999Discovery and Development of Penicillin
Polypropylene and High-density Polyethylene
Separation of Rare Earth Elements
“Marker Degradation” and Creation of the Mexican Steroid Hormone Industry 1938–1945
Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier: The Chemical Revolution
Percy Julian: Synthesis of Physostigmine
Foundations of Polymer Science: Hermann Staudinger and Macromolecules
1998C.V. Raman: The Raman Effect
Tagamet: Discovery of Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists
Fluid Bed Reactor
Havemeyer Hall at Columbia University
U.S. Synthetic Rubber Program, 1939-1945
Discovery of the Commercial Processes for Making Calcium Carbide and Acetylene
1997Gilman Hall at the University of California, Berkeley
Hall Process: Production and Commercialization of Aluminum
Commercialization of Radiation Chemistry
Electrolytic Production of Bromine
1996Sohio Acrylonitrile Process
Modern Water-based Paint: Kem-Tone Wall Finish
Houdry Process for Catalytic Cracking
Williams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection at Harding University
1995Universal Oil Products (UOP) Riverside Laboratory
Acetyl Chemicals from Coal Gasification
Foundations of Polymer Science: Wallace Carothers and the Development of Nylon
Edward W. Morley and the Atomic Weight of Oxygen
1994Joseph Priestley: Discoverer of Oxygen (Priestley House)
Chandler Laboratory at Lehigh University
1993Bakelite®: The World’s First Synthetic Plastic

Listed by Landmark category. Not all Landmarks are listed below.

Consumer Products

Cradles of Chemistry

Frontiers of Knowledge

Industrial Advances

Medical Miracles

Pioneers

U.S. Landmarks are listed alphabetically by state.

StateLandmark
AlabamaGeorge Washington Carver: Chemist, Teacher, Symbol
AlaskaThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
ArizonaThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
ArkansasWilliams-Miles History of Chemistry Collection at Harding University
CaliforniaChlorofluorocarbons and Ozone Depletion
Commercialization of Radiation Chemistry

Development of the Beckman pH Meter
Discovery of Transuranium Elements at Berkeley Lab
Flavor Chemistry Research at the USDA
Frozen Foods Research: Time-Temperature Tolerance Studies
Infrared Spectrometer and the Exploration of Mars
Gilman Hall at the University of California, Berkeley
The Keeling Curve: Studies of Atmospheric CO2
NMR and MRI: Applications in Chemistry and Medicine
ColoradoThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
ConnecticutU.S. Synthetic Rubber Program
DelawareFoundations of Polymer Science: Wallace Carothers and the Development of Nylon
District of Columbia Bakelite®: The World’s First Synthetic Plastic
FloridaThomas Edison, Chemist
GeorgiaCharles Herty and the Savannah Pulp and Paper Laboratory
HawaiiThe Keeling Curve: Studies of Atmospheric CO2
IdahoThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
IllinoisAlice Hamilton and the Development of Occupational Medicine
Discovery and Development of Penicillin
Noyes Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Universal Oil Products (UOP) Riverside Laboratory 
Willard Libby and Radiocarbon Dating
IndianaDevelopment of Baking Powder
Development of Diagnostic Test Strips
Insulin Development and Commercialization
Percy Julian: Synthesis of Physostigmine
Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry at Purdue University
IowaAmes Laboratory and Uranium Production in World War II
KansasDiscovery of Helium in Natural Gas
KentuckyKelly Pneumatic Iron Process
LouisianaCotton Products Research
Fluid Bed Reactor
Norbert Rillieux and a Revolution in Sugar Processing
MaineThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
MarylandDeciphering the Genetic Code
Isolation of Phytochrome
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
MassachusettsEdwin Land and Instant Photography
Saul Hertz and the Medical Uses of Radioiodine
MichiganBettye Washington Greene, Ph.D.
Electrolytic Production of Bromine
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Moses Gomberg and Organic Free Radicals
Thomas Edison, Chemist
MinnesotaScotch Transparent Tape
I. M. Kolthoff and Modern Analytical Chemistry
MississippiThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
MissouriCarl and Gerty Cori and Carbohydrate Metabolism
Columbia Dry Cell Battery
MontanaThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
NebraskaRachel Holloway Lloyd, Pioneer American Woman in Chemistry
NevadaThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
New HampshireSeparation of Rare Earth Elements
New JerseySelman Waksman and Antibiotics
Discovery and Development of Penicillin 
Discovery of Ivermectin 
Thomas Edison, Chemist
The Vitamin B Complex
New MexicoThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
New YorkFoundations of Polymer Science: Herman Mark and the Polymer Research Institute
George Eastman, Kodak, and the Birth of Consumer Photography
Havemeyer Hall at Columbia University
John W. Draper and the Founding of the American Chemical Society
Marie Maynard Daly
NMR and MRI: Applications in Chemistry and Medicine
Nucleic Acid and Protein Research at Rockefeller University
Production of Penicillin through Deep-tank Fermentation
North CarolinaDiscovery of Camptothecin and Taxol
Discovery of the Commercial Processes for Making Calcium Carbide and Acetylene
North DakotaThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
OhioChemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
Columbia Dry Cell Battery
DayGlo Fluorescent Pigments
Edward W. Morley and the Atomic Weight of Oxygen
Hall Process: Production and Commercialization of Aluminum
High Performance Carbon Fibers
Modern Water-based Paint: Kem-Tone Wall Finish
Oesper Collections in the History of Chemistry
Sohio Acrylonitrile Process
Tide Synthetic Detergent
U.S. Synthetic Rubber Program
OklahomaPolypropylene and High-density Polyethylene (HDPE)
OregonThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
PennsylvaniaAcrylic Emulsion Technology
Chandler Laboratory at Lehigh University
Development of the Pennsylvania Oil Industry
Discovery of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV
Food Dehydration Technology
Hall Process: Production and Commercialization of Aluminum
Houdry Process for Catalytic Cracking
Joseph Priestley: Discoverer of Oxygen
Legacy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring
Marker Degradation: Creation of the Mexican Steroid Hormone Industry 1938–1945
Mellon Institute of Industrial Research at Carnegie Mellon University
Science History Institute
Smith Memorial Collection at the University of Pennsylvania
Tagamet: Discovery of Histamine H2-Receptor Antagonists
Rhode IslandDevelopment of Baking Powder
South CarolinaPlutonium-238 Production for Space Exploration
South DakotaThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
TennesseeAcetyl Chemicals from Coal Gasification
Production and Distribution of Radioisotopes at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Raney® Nickel: A Life-Changing Catalyst
TexasDiscovery of Fullerenes
Sohio Acrylonitrile Process
UtahThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
VermontThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
VirginiaChemical Hearth
Chemistry at Jamestown
WashingtonThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.
West VirginiaBirth of the Petrochemical Industry
WisconsinThe Invention of Warfarin
WyomingThere are currently no Landmarks in this state. Take action and nominate.