The Historic Armories
of Rhode Island


 

Historic Armories Book


Links

 

Armories are more than mere buildings.  They represent our social and military past -- from dances and wedding receptions to circuses, auto shows, polio clinics, and voting, these buildings have served their communities through time.  Seven of the armories are occupied presently by state-chartered militia units, while one is still occupied by the Rhode Island National Guard (Armory of Mounted Commands).  The others are in many cases resuming the social part of their lives as buildings for the use of their communities (i.e., Westerly and Bristol Naval Reserve).  One is home to an art museum (Warwick Kentish Artillery), while another (Rodman Hall) is used by the state university for classrooms and for its Community Planning Department.  The largest (Providence, sometimes known as "Cranston Street") is still looking for its rightful place in the state, but has the support of a number of groups, including the West Broad Street Neighborhood Association, to help it find its focus.

Rhode Island's armories are varied in their architecture -- from wood-framed neo-classical style buildings to granite and brick medieval castle-like buildings, these armories are among some of the very best of Rhode Island's architecture (and a state well known throughout the world for its fine architecture).

The 18 historic armories of Rhode Island are located in 11 cities/towns in the state.  They are (from north to south):

The Woonsocket Armory,  350 South Main Street, Woonsocket
The Gloucester Light Infantry Armory, Dorr Drive, Chepachet (Glocester)
The Pawtucket Armory, 172 Exchange Street, Pawtucket
The Armory of Mounted Commands, 1051 North Main Street, Providence
The Providence Armory, 225 Dexter Street, Providence
The Benefit Street Arsenal, 176 Benefit Street, Providence
The Armory of the Pawtuxet Rangers, 59 Remington Street, Warwick
The Warwick Kentish Artillery Armory, 3259 Post Road, Warwick
The Armory of the Warren Federal Blues, 42 Baker Street, Warren
The Warren Artillery Armory, 11 Jefferson Street, Warren
The Bristol Naval Reserve Armory, Thames Street, Bristol
The Bristol Train of Artillery Armory, 135 State Street, Bristol
The Varnum Memorial Armory, 5 Main Street, East Greenwich
The Armory of the Kentish Guards, 1774 Armory Street, East Greenwich
The Newport Armory, 365 Thames Street, Newport
The Armory of the Artillery Company of Newport, 23 Clark Street, Newport
Rodman Hall Armory-Gymnasium, University of Rhode Island, Kingston (South Kingstown)
The Westerly Armory, Railroad Avenue & Dixon Street, Westerly


The Benefit Street Arsenal
Providence
1839-40
The Bristol Naval Reserve Armory
Bristol
1896
The Bristol Train of
Artillery Armory
Bristol
1842

The Kentish Guards Armory
East Greenwich
1843
The Gloucester Light
Infantry Armory
Chepachet (Glocester)
c. 1865
The Newport Armory
Newport
1894

Armory of Mounted Commands
Providence
1913-14 & 1923-25
Newport Artillery Armory
Newport
1835-36
Pawtucket Armory
Pawtucket
1894-95

Pawtuxet Armory
Warwick
1843
Providence Armory
Providence
1903-07
Rodman Hall Armory-Gymnasium
URI, Kingston
1928

Varnum Memorial Armory
East Greenwich
1913
Warren Federal Blues Armory
Warren
c. 1865
Warren Artillery Armory

Warren
1842

Warwick Kentish
Armory Artillery Armory
Warwick
1912
The Westerly Armory
Westerly
1901-02
The Woonsocket
Woonsocket
1912


This page was last updated on March 16, 2005.


For more information on these armories, email toorobert@aol.com or fax (401)596-9529.