Naval Reserve Armory
Encyclopedia
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". 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 feet (30.5 m) drill hall
which was used in Naval Reserve
training of thousands of young recruits for service in the war. It is significant for its association with mass mobilization during the World War, for association with Depression-era work relief, and more.
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
.
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
.
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. In 2009, the building is in good condition.
The armory appears to be a Seattle landmark. 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.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
"is a massive concrete building exhibiting restrained Moderne
Moderne
Moderne may refer to:* Moderne architecture, also sometimes referred to as "Style Moderne" or simply "Modern", a more general term for a style of architecture that became popular in 1925 and was described in the 1960s as "Art Deco"...
and Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
features". It was built by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
in 1941-1942, and "served as an Advanced Naval Training School" during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The main interior feature is a 133 x 100 feet (30.5 m) drill hall
Drill hall
A drill hall is a place such as a building or a hangar where soldiers practice and perform military drill. In the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, the term was also used for the whole headquarters building of a military reserve unit, which usually incorporated such a hall...
which was used in Naval Reserve
Naval Reserve
A Naval Reserve is the reserve body of a nation's Navy, typically called-upon in times of conflict. Naval Reserves include:* La réserve Marine * Royal Naval Reserve * Royal Australian Naval Reserve* Canadian Naval Reserve...
training of thousands of young recruits for service in the war. It is significant for its association with mass mobilization during the World War, for association with Depression-era work relief, and more.
The building was designed by Seattle architect William R. Grant and by B. Marcus Priteca
B. Marcus Priteca
Benjamin Marcus Priteca was born in Glasgow, Scotland. A theater architect, he is best-known for his work for Alexander Pantages. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1907 and later attended the Royal College of Art...
, 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
White elephant
A white elephant is an idiom for a valuable but burdensome possession of which its owner cannot dispose and whose cost is out of proportion to its usefulness or worth...
, 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
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
.
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
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
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
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(NRHP) on July 8, 2009 and the listing was announced as the featured listing in the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
's weekly list of July 17, 2009. In 2009, the building is in good condition.
The armory appears to be a Seattle landmark. It is located in what is now the Lake Union Park, at the south end of Lake Union
Lake Union
Lake Union is a freshwater lake entirely within the Seattle, Washington city limits.-Origins:A glacial lake, its basin was dug 12,000 years ago by the Vashon glacier, which also created Lake Washington and Seattle's Green, Bitter, and Haller Lakes.-Name:...
, a lake connected to the Puget Sound by the Lake Washington Ship Canal
Lake Washington Ship Canal
The Lake Washington Ship Canal, which runs through the City of Seattle, Washington, connects the fresh water body of Lake Washington with the salt water inland sea of Puget Sound. The Ship Canal includes a series of locks, modeled after the Panama Canal, to accommodate the different water levels...
in 1917. An earlier use of the site was for the Eastern Mill, a sawmill.
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
