Colorado National Guard Armory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Armory
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| Location | Golden, Colorado |
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| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | James H. Gow |
| Architectural style | Castle |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000860 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 1978 |
The Colorado National Guard Armory, often called the Armory by people in Golden, is a famous building in Colorado. It's special because it was once the biggest building in the United States made mostly of cobblestone.
The Armory was built in 1913 by the Colorado National Guard. It was a place for soldiers to live, eat, train, and store weapons. It also had a large hall for events. When it was finished in 1914, the soldiers lived on the second and third floors. The first floor was rented out to the public.
Over the years, the Armory was used for many things. It was a post office, a photo shop, and even a hotel. During a big sickness in 1918, it became an emergency hospital run by the Red Cross. Later, in 1933, it was a main office for a government program that created jobs during tough economic times. Today, the Calvary Episcopal Church owns the building.
Now, the Armory is still a busy place. The first floor has a coffee shop called Cafe 13. The second floor is used for student housing by the Colorado School of Mines. Other parts of the building are home to Connects Workspace, a place where people can work together.
What makes the Armory special?
The Armory was built between 1913 and 1914. At that time, there was a lot of conflict in Colorado, known as the Colorado Coalfield War. The building was designed by James H. Gow. He first planned for it to be made of brick.
However, to save money, they decided to use cobblestone instead. This stone was free and easy to find nearby. About 3,300 wagonloads of cobblestones, weighing 6,600 tons, were brought from Clear Creek. Some people worried the building would fall down because of all the stone!
The Armory's unique look might have been inspired by a military school in England. It also might have been inspired by the castle symbol of the soldiers who used the building.
Famous Facts about the Armory
The Armory was once featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!. It was listed as the largest cobblestone building in the United States. A famous actor, Gene Hackman, even owned the building at one point. You can still visit the old post office safe in the lower level. The lowest walls of the building are several feet thick. This helps support the huge weight of the cobblestones above.
The Armory was one of the first buildings in the area to use local stones like cobblestone and fieldstone. This started a special way of building in Golden that lasted until the 1940s.
Images for kids
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Stone bearing the names of those involved in the construction of the Colorado National Guard Armory in Golden, Colorado.
