Marion, Ohio has never been afraid to think big. From locks trusted worldwide to machines that helped build the modern world, even launching man to the moon, this Midwestern community has long been a place where innovation thrives. Today, that legacy continues through advanced workforce training and cutting-edge technology. Here’s how Marion helped shape the past, influence the present, and prepare for the future of American industry.
A Legacy of Security: Wilson Bohannan Lock Company
Wilson Bohannan’s “Well Built” padlocks earned worldwide trust long before his passing in 1896. The family business continued through generations, and in 1927, Wilson Bohannan Tway relocated the company from Brooklyn to Marion, drawn by the town’s welcoming spirit and opportunity. As technology evolved, so did the company’s craftsmanship. The 1930s brought pin tumbler mechanisms, followed by durable solid brass padlocks in the 1950s that served expanding public utility needs across the nation. Today, the Wilson Bohannan Lock Company remains the oldest family-owned padlock manufacturer in the United States. Proudly owned and operated in Marion by Howard Smith and his daughter, Sarah Rassell, the company continues to grow — currently expanding its facilities while maintaining a tradition of quality that spans more than a century.
Machines That Built the Modern World: Marion Steam Shovel Company
Founded in 1884, the Marion Steam Shovel Company revolutionized railways, roads, and massive construction projects across the nation. Its powerful machines helped carve the Panama Canal, build the Hoover Dam and Holland Tunnel, and reshape America’s infrastructure. At its peak, “The Shovel” employed more than 2,500 workers and produced some of the largest land vehicles ever created. The company’s influence even extended into popular culture — a Marion steam shovel is believed to have inspired the beloved children’s book Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, featuring the faithful machine Mary Anne (perhaps a nod to Marion itself).
But Marion’s engineering story didn’t stop at earth-moving — it reached for the stars.
Marion and the Moon: Marion Power Shovel Company
Imagine a machine weighing 16 million pounds, rolling on 456 massive shoes, consuming fuel at 250 gallons per minute, and moving at a steady one mile per hour. This engineering marvel — the crawler-transporter built by Marion Power Shovel in the 1960s — became the largest self-powered land vehicle in the world.
Beginning in 1966, two of these giants carried towering Saturn V moon rockets from the assembly building to the launch pad at NASA Kennedy Space Center. The three-mile journey they enabled helped launch humanity’s first missions to the moon.
Small town. Big machines. World-changing impact. Marion helped move America into the Space Age.
Building the Future Workforce: RAMTEC
Marion’s spirit of innovation continues today through investment in people and opportunity. When local leaders recognized a gap between workforce needs and training opportunities, they launched a bold solution.
In 2013, RAMTEC — the Robotics & Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative — formed a partnership between Tri-Rivers Career Center, Marion Technical College, and The Ohio State University at Marion. The initiative connects high school students directly to real-world engineering and advanced manufacturing training.
What began in Marion has expanded to 23 locations across Ohio, preparing students for careers in industrial robotics and advanced manufacturing with global companies like Honda and Whirlpool Corporation.
Now known as the Workforce Capital of the World, Marion continues its legacy by investing in skills, innovation, and the next generation of industry leaders.
A Community That Builds What’s Next
From precision padlocks and earth-moving machines to moon missions and robotics education, Marion’s story is one of ingenuity, resilience, and vision. It’s a place where history and progress work hand in hand — where bold ideas become real-world solutions.
The future of work is being built right here. And it’s powered by Marion.
