- Naval Reserve Armory
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Naval Reserve Armory
Naval Reserve Armory and Lake Union Park, viewed from Space NeedleLocation: 860 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, Washington Area: 1.42 acres (5,700 m2)[2] Built: 1940-1942 Architect: B. Marcus Priteca, William R. Grant Architectural style: Moderne, Art Deco Governing body: Local (City of Seattle Dept. of Parks & Recreation) NRHP Reference#: 09000506[1] Added to NRHP: July 8, 2009[1] The Naval Reserve Armory in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington "is a massive concrete building exhibiting restrained Moderne and Art Deco features".[2] It was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1941-1942, and "served as an Advanced Naval Training School" during World War II. The main interior feature is a 133 x 100-foot (30 m) drill hall which was used in Naval Reserve training of thousands of young recruits for service in the war.[2] It is significant for its association with mass mobilization during the World War, for association with Depression-era work relief, and more.[2]
The building was designed by Seattle architect William R. Grant and by B. Marcus Priteca, with Priteca apparently in the lead position. Its construction was promoted by a citizens committee, then was delayed by fears it would be a white elephant, but eventually politicians endorsed and promoted the project, and it secured a $99,997 WPA grant. Later a $69,983 increase was granted, and the project was also funded by $6,399 from the State of Washington and $14,204 from, perhaps uncharacteristically, the University of Washington.[2]
It cost $500,000 to construct the building. It was dedicated on July 4, 1942, a "grim summer" point during the war, at a ceremony with honored guest Mrs. Peter Barber, whose three sons had been killed in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.[2]
The armory was decommissioned after the war, but got renovation funding in 1946. It was disestablished in 1998. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 8, 2009 and the listing was announced as the featured listing in the National Park Service's weekly list of July 17, 2009.[3] In 2009, the building is in good condition.[2]
The armory appears to be a Seattle landmark.[4] It is located in what is now the Lake Union Park, at the south end of Lake Union, a lake connected to the Puget Sound by the Lake Washington Ship Canal in 1917. An earlier use of the site was for the Eastern Mill, a sawmill.[2]
References
- ^ a b "Announcements and actions on properties for the National Register of Historic Places". Weekly Listings. National Park Service. July 17, 2009. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/listings/20090717.htm. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Sonja Sokol Furesz and Susan Boyle (March 4, 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Naval Reserve Armory" (PDF). National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/feature/weekly_features/NavalReserveArmory.pdf. Retrieved September 10, 2009. (64 pages, with maps, plans, historic photos, and 16 recent exterior and interior photos)
- ^ "Weekly List Actions". National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/nrlist.htm. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ^ The Naval Reserve Armory is listed here in the Seattle Neighborhoods Department listings, but without effective date and resolution number. So it could be nominated or intended for landmarking, if it is not yet landmarked.
External links
- Naval Reserve Armory photo, at Seattle Department of Neighborhoods landmarks
- "Lake Union Armory" photo, at Seattle Parks and Recreation Department
- Lake Union Park, with some info about the armory, at Seattle Parks and Recreation Department
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- Military facilities on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington (state)
- Art Deco architecture in Washington (state)
- Military facilities in Seattle, Washington
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