Cranston Street Armory

Built In

1907

History

Sited at the south end of Dexter Training Ground, the Providence Armory was designed by William R. Walker & Son. The central 40,000-square-foot drill hall has symmetrical 4-story head houses at each end. The brick building features turrets, copper parapets, and granite and terra cotta ornaments. While the official occupant was the National Guard, the drill hall hosted vaccination clinics, inaugural balls, auto shows, and sporting events. The National Guard left the building in the hands of the State in 1996 and it has remained in limbo since then. The Providence Preservation Society has included the building in its annual list of Most Endangered Properties multiple times, speaking to the building's physical state and unknown future. The West Broadway Neighborhood Association has actively advocated for the preservation and reuse of the building.