Cranston St. Armory

The Cranston Street Armory is an historic building in the Broadway–Armory Historic District of Providence, Rhode Island. The Armory was built in 1907 for use by the Rhode Island National Guard for 89 years, from its opening in 1907 until 1996. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the Armory as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" in its annual list for 1997. Its distinctive yellow bricks, crenellated turrets, and decorative stonework mark it as a historically significant building and neighborhood icon.

The armory was built with a steel-truss frame, with a large open central hall and two towers with a total of 165,000 square feet of space. The main hall alone is as wide as two football fields. After World War I, the Armory was used by 243rd Coast Artillery, and in later years by the 43rd and 118th as well.

In 1996 the State of Rhode Island took over the property, and the National Guard moved out the following year. After the state passed tax incentives to encourage filming in Rhode Island the armory served a brief stint as a sound stage for the filming of Underdog. Other uses for the Armory include inaugural balls for father and son Governor’s, John Chafee and Lincoln Chafee as well as for Providence’s Mayor Angel Taveras.

DCAMM is leading a collaborative effort with other State Leaders and interested organizations to revitalize and repurpose the Cranston Street Armory.