The Armory (Key West)

The Armory
The old Armory on White Street
Location Key West, Florida
Coordinates 24°33′35″N 81°47′39″W / 24.55969°N 81.79404°W / 24.55969; -81.79404Coordinates: 24°33′35″N 81°47′39″W / 24.55969°N 81.79404°W / 24.55969; -81.79404
Area 0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built 1901
Built by John T. Sawyer
Architect T.F. Russell
Architectural style Gothic
NRHP reference # 71000243[1]
Added to NRHP March 11, 1971

The Armory is a historic site in Key West, Florida, United States. It is located at 600 White Street. In 1971, it was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.

The armory was built to support military training and readiness of local military reserves. The "Key West Rifles", a voluntary military company, had been organized with 80 members, in 1877. It was not very professional, and after the fire of 1886 destroyed all of its equipment, it ceased to exist. In 1888, a 32-member company named the "Island City Guards" was organized, which would eventually become Company 1, Second Regiment of Infantry, Florida State Troops. It is now part of the National Guard.[2]

Land for an armory was purchased by Monroe County in 1901. The armory was designed by T. F. Russell and built in 1901 by John T. Sawyer. In 1903, upon a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court, the state of Florida refunded the cost to the county and took ownership.[3]

In 2006, it became the home and initial campus of The Studios of Key West, a new artist community offering creative space, professional workshops, and other creative and cultural activities.

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Exploring Florida: Key West: Militia". Retrieved April 5, 2017. (Excerpt from "Key West: The Old and the New" (1912) by Jefferson B. Browne)
  3. ↑ Betty Bruce and J.P. Schuck (September 15, 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: The Armory". National Park Service. Retrieved April 5, 2017. With photo from 1970.


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