Riverbank Laboratories
Encyclopedia
Riverbank Laboratories, or Riverbank Labs, is a company on Route 31
in Geneva, Illinois
that started in 1918. This company has played an instrumental piece in the United States
history of World War I
for decrypting the German and Mexican code. The current address for the company is 1512 Batavia Ave. Geneva, IL 60134.
on his vast Riverbank Estate covering both sides of Route 31. His interest in building this lab came from his desire to decode and decipher enemy messages, but the also the works of Shakespeare. The National Register of Historic Places
has recognized this significance and registered Riverbank in 2003. Until Riverbank came along there really was no learning/deciphering/decoding of cryptic messages in the United States, so using his wealth and position, George Fabyan allowed the U.S. Government to use the Riverbank Laboratories to their disposal during World War I.
. This location still houses the Riverbank Acoustical Museum and Acoustical Library.
Illinois Route 31
Illinois Route 31 is a north–south state road in northeastern Illinois, United States. It runs from U.S. Highway 34 in Oswego north to U.S. Highway 12, near the Wisconsin border, just south of Richmond. Illinois 31 is long.- Route description :...
in Geneva, Illinois
Geneva, Illinois
Geneva is the county seat of Kane County, Illinois. It is located on the western fringe of the Chicago suburbs. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 26,652. Geneva is part of a tri-city area, along with St. Charles and Batavia...
that started in 1918. This company has played an instrumental piece in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for decrypting the German and Mexican code. The current address for the company is 1512 Batavia Ave. Geneva, IL 60134.
History
Riverbank was built solely by Colonel George FabyanGeorge Fabyan
George Fabyan was a millionaire businessman who founded a private research laboratory. Fabyan's laboratory pioneered modern cryptography, though its initial findings, supporting Fabyan's belief that Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays, were later disproven by the cryptographers who trained...
on his vast Riverbank Estate covering both sides of Route 31. His interest in building this lab came from his desire to decode and decipher enemy messages, but the also the works of Shakespeare. The National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
has recognized this significance and registered Riverbank in 2003. Until Riverbank came along there really was no learning/deciphering/decoding of cryptic messages in the United States, so using his wealth and position, George Fabyan allowed the U.S. Government to use the Riverbank Laboratories to their disposal during World War I.
Current
Riverbank Acoustical Laboratories (RAL) now provides acoustical measurements for individuals, companies, independent entities, and various government agencies. RAL is accredited through the National Institute of Standards and TechnologyNational Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
. This location still houses the Riverbank Acoustical Museum and Acoustical Library.