Crane water tank built around an old fire tower, from February 2025
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 1839, IN 19 (view other lookouts in United States, Indiana) |
| Date Registered | August 2, 2026 |
| Nominated by | Jason Johns |
| Location |
Naval Weapons Station Crane Martin County, Indiana |
| Coordinates |
N 38° 50.958' W 086° 51.461' (view using Google Maps) N 38° 50' 57" W 086° 51' 28" N 38.849305° W 086.857685° |
| Elevation | 772 ft (235 m) |
| Administered by | U.S. Navy |
Description
According to Indianafiretowers.com. In the 1930s, this area in Martin County was being called the White River Land Utilization Project as a project between the USDA Soil Conversation Service and the Indiana Department of Conservation. This area in Martin County becomes a naval ammunition facility as WW2 begins.
The OSBORN RM 3 JA1940 mark, which is not at any of the four known tower sites, has a 1946 station description that says it is “ABOUT 1 MILE NORTHWEST OF A PROMINENT WATER TOWER THAT IS BUILT OVER AND AROUND AN OLD FOREST SERVICE LOOKOUT TOWER”. It’s easy to find Water Tank 4 (mark JA1930) at that location, and that’s where there is a water tank that also has a lookout tower.