Bay Street Armoury facts for kids
The Bay Street Armoury is an important historic building located at 715 Bay Street in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It serves as a training center for military units and also houses a museum.
History of the Armoury
The Bay Street Armoury, also known as the Bay Street Drill Hall, was finished in 1915. It was built to provide a place for local military groups, like the Fifth Regiment of artillery, to train. It also became home to two new groups: the 50th Gordon Highlanders of Canada and the main office for Military District No. 11. The building was designed by a skilled architect named William Ridgway Wilson.
In its early days, the armoury was used for many public events. This was because Victoria didn't have many other large public spaces back then.
The building was officially recognized as a historic site in 1989. It is a two-story drill hall, which is a large building used for military training. It features a special design style called Tudor Revival. This style was popular between 1896 and 1918, when over 100 similar drill halls and armouries were built across Canada. The large size of this armoury shows how much more people joined the military after Canada's involvement in the Second Boer War.
Who Trains Here?
Several military units are based at the Bay Street Armoury today. These include the 89th Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron, the 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA, and The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's). These groups use the armoury for training and other activities.
The 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Museum
Inside the armoury, you can find the 5th (BC) Artillery Regiment Museum. This museum tells the story of the 5th (British Columbia) Field Artillery Regiment, RCA and other related military groups. It covers their history from 1861 all the way to today.
At the museum, you can see many interesting items. These include old field artillery pieces and cannons, military uniforms, musical instruments used by military bands, medals, weapons, special badges, and lots of photographs. The museum is usually open to visitors on Tuesday evenings.
