Blues Armory facts for kids
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Blues Armory
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6th and Marshall Sts., Richmond, Virginia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Averill & Hall |
| NRHP reference No. | 76002229 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 17, 1976 |
The Blues Armory is a large brick building in downtown Richmond, Virginia. It looks a bit like a castle! This special building was once home to a military group called the Richmond Light Infantry Blues.
When it was first built, the armory had many uses. The bottom floor was a busy food market. The top floor was a large hall for military drills. These drills were for the National Guard, a part-time military force. In between these floors were offices for different National Guard companies.
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The Blues Armory: A Castle in the City
The Blues Armory was finished in 1910. It was designed by architects Averill and Hall from Washington, D.C. The building is made of strong steel and covered with bricks and rough-cut stone.
Why Does It Look Like a Castle?
The armory was designed to look like a castle for a reason. It was built to be very strong. This was in case of riots or other attacks. The ground floor, where the market was, was completely separate from the military floors above.
The building even extends over the sidewalks. This creates a covered walkway below. You can see five archways on the Marshall Street side and seven on Sixth Street. The corners of the building have small towers, like those on a castle. The upper part of the building also has special openings. These were for defense, like dropping things on attackers. The roof of the drill hall rises above the castle-like walls.
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues
The Richmond Light Infantry Blues were a military unit with a long history. They started way back in 1789.
Important Moments for the Blues
In 1800, the Blues were called to help with Gabriel's Rebellion. This was a planned uprising led by an enslaved man named Gabriel. The Blues helped to deal with the situation.
During the American Civil War, the Blues were part of the Army of Northern Virginia. This was a major army for the Southern states. After 1894, the Blues became a larger group called a battalion. After World War II, they became a regiment.
The End of an Era
In 1968, the National Guard changed its organization. Because of this, the Richmond Light Infantry Blues unit was no longer active. The armory building then fell out of use.
What Happened Next?
By the 1990s, the lower part of the armory became part of a shopping area. This area was called the Sixth Street Market. The offices on the upper floor and the food court on the first floor closed in 2002.
The Blues Armory is an important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 17, 1976. This means it is recognized as a place worth protecting for its history.
