The New York State Arsenal as it looked during the Civil War (above). In 1861 it was occupied by the 7th New York Infantry Regiment, nicknamed the Steuben Regiment (below; the location is often cited as the State Arsenal on 57th Street but this is in error). From Old New York: From Its Earliest History to About the Year 1868 by Bayard L. Smith.
In the years after the American Revolution, defense of the new nation was a major concern, especially in the capital city. New York City was the capital under the Articles of Confederation, and again from April 1789 to July 1790. When George Washington was sworn in as President by Chancellor Robert Livingston, it was on the steps of the old City Hall, which had been redesigned by Pierre Charles L’Enfant. There, heated debates were held over the possible merits and pitfalls of having a standing army in place to protect the country from threats, whether it be those coming from outside the country, or within it.
The line of entrenchments in Brooklyn, many of which had been built in anticipation of the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. From A History of Long Island, from its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Volume 1 by Peter Ross, 1902.
New York had been fortified in the lead up to the Battle of Brooklyn, and the British added to these during their occupation of New York. When war once again loomed with Britain during the War of 1812, the city, the state, and the national governments, with the Revolution still fresh in their minds, were understandably concerned that the British would once again attack New York. A Committee of Defense was created to protect the city, and existing fortifications were enlarged or rebuilt entirely, including four new forts that were built to defend New York Harbor. The line of forts that protected Brooklyn Heights and defended the East River were greatly strengthened as well.
Fort Fish (center), Nutter’s Battery (to the left), and Fort Clinton (right), with the Harlem Creek and Hell Gate Beyond. From D.T. Valentine’s Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York, 1856.
A chain of blockhouses was also erected in Northern Manhattan, connecting from the Hudson River to a small battery called Fort Laight. Just to the west of these, two small forts and a battery were constructed atop rocky outcroppings. Named Fort Clinton, after Mayor DeWitt Clinton, and Fort Fish, after Nicholas Fish, these overlooked the approach from Hell Gate. Another blockhouse was built on Mill Rock, which was right in the middle of the dangerous waters, and Fort Stevens, named after its commander Ebenezer Stevens, was constructed on Hallett’s Point in what is now Astoria.
The blockhouse on Mill Rock, seen from Manhattan, c. 1820. From Iconography of the City of New York, Volume 3 by I.N. Phelps Stokes, 1918.
In 1808, New York State began a program to construct armories, with a state arsenal built in lower Manhattan. A city arsenal was constructed near what is now 64th Street and 5th Avenue, in an area far north of the city that could easily deploy troops as necessary. In 1844, the city arsenal was razed and a new, larger armory was built “To House and Protect the Arms of the State.” The stone building, designed by Martin E. Thompson, evoked a fanciful European fortress, with octagonal towers, a crenellated roof, and details such as cannons for newels and handrails cast from actual guns.
An early rendering of the New York State Arsenal, which was completed in 1851. Several important details, including the curved stairs and second floor balcony, would be part of the final design. From D.T. Valentine’s Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York, 1850.
After the Civil War, the arsenal gradually fell out of military use. People often abandoned animals in Central Park, and in 1859 a menagerie was opened in its basement, a precursor to the Central Park Zoo.
When the American Museum of Natural History was established in 1869, they used the armory for displays and a laboratory, before moving to a permanent home in Manhattan Square across the park. For a time it also housed the 11th Precinct police department, who were nicknamed the “sparrow cops.”
The arsenal also hosted the municipal weather bureau from 1869 to 1918. In this view from 1914, the weather bureau’s equipment can be seen atop the armory.
Some armories across the city were housed in repurposed buildings, such as the Centre Market Armory on the Lower East Side. The Tompkins Market Armory, which housed the 7th and 69th Regiments at times, also included space for market stalls on the first floor. Some structures were temporarily used as armories, including the Second Avenue Armory, which was used to store guns and was pillaged and burned during the 1863 Draft Riots.
The Tompkins Market Armory on 3rd Avenue, 1870. It was designed by James Bogardus and featured cast iron and stone so the structure would be fireproof. From Manual of the Corporation of the City of New York, compiled by John Hardy.
After the Civil War ended, there was a boom in constructing armories, with 24 constructed in the city from 1872 to 1936. Most of them were funded by the state and/or the city. A notable exception to this was the 7th Regiment (Park Avenue) Armory, home of the “Silk Stocking” Regiment, so named because many of its soldiers came from notable city families. It was built entirely by private funds, making it unique among the city’s armories.
Opening of the 7th Regiment Armory, April 26, 1880. Its famous Veterans Room was designed by Stanford White and Louis Comfort Tiffany. From Frank Leslie’s Illustrated, May 15, 1880.
Folks playing lawn tennis in the drill hall of the 7th Regiment Armory. From Harper’s Weekly, December 10, 1881.
The 69th Regiment Armory on Lexington Avenue, designed by Hunt & Hunt, 1906. It was a favorite spot for automobile and airplane shows, often competing with nearby Madison Square Garden. From Architecture, November 15, 1906, Volume 14, No 5.
Interestingly, there was a gradual shift from using the armories solely for military proceedings to seeing them used as places for large social gatherings and entertainments. The club-like atmosphere built upon the camaraderie of soldiering. Along with being used as drilling halls and parade grounds, the armories were also used for non-military activities, such as youth athletic programs, community meetings, automobile shows, and art shows. Perhaps the most famous art show was the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art, known to posterity as The Armory Show, which was held at the 69th Regiment Armory, still standing on Lexington Avenue and 25th Streets.
Constructing the subway and 33rd Street station, 1903. The express tracks are lowered here to aid braking, as the tracks north of the station are put into two separate tunnels built on the side of the 1834 Murray Hill tunnel. The original IRT route rose up and curved to the west, bringing trains into the Grand Central stop (now the Grand Central shuttle). From Proceedings of the Municipal Engineers of the City of New York, 1903.
In addition to being architectural gems, New York’s surviving armories, of which 22 exist in some form, are still used for numerous cultural events. An interesting reminder of some of the demolished armories are eagle plaques that were featured in some of the original IRT subway stops. These stations were meticulously decorated and each had a specific color scheme so riders could easily recognize their stop. Three of the stops had plaques: Brooklyn Bridge (now Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall) was near the aforementioned Centre Market Armory; 14th Street was near the 9th Regiment Armory; and 33rd Street was near the 71st Regiment Armory. The plaques at 33rd Street have been beautifully restored and are in situ. Some of the ones at 14th Street were recovered and are on display as part of the Framing Union Square art installation by Mary Miss, while those at Brooklyn Bridge remain hidden, as the express platforms were closed and the space was used for a signal room and storage.
The 9th Regiment Armory on 14th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues (above), and the 71st Regiment Armory on 34th Street and Park Avenue (below). From King’s New York Views, 1900.