PEPCON Disaster Site (Memorial)

The site of the 1988 PEPCON chemical plant explosion on the west side of Henderson is not a formal tourist attraction, but it has become a point of interest for those curious about the city's industrial history. The explosion — one of the most significant industrial accidents in American history — destroyed the plant entirely and caused massive damage to the surrounding area. The site has since been redeveloped.

A small memorial commemorates the workers killed in the disaster. The PEPCON explosion is a significant piece of Henderson's industrial heritage, reminding visitors that beneath the suburban surface, the city's origins lie in wartime chemical production. The Clark County Museum has exhibits about the event if you want to learn more without visiting the site itself.

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A story
On May 4, 1988, a fire at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company of Nevada ignited stores of ammonium perchlorate — the oxidizer used in Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters. Two massive explosions followed, the second registering 3.5 on the Richter scale and felt across Las Vegas. Two people were killed, 372 injured, and the windows of buildings miles away were shattered. The blast was captured on live television by a camera crew that had been filming a church construction nearby.