Hunt Armory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hunt Armory
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Hunt Armory
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 Location in Pittsburgh
Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 324 Emerson Street, Shadyside, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
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| Nearest city | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Built | 1916 |
| Built by | Dawson Construction Co. |
| Architect | W.G. Wilkins Co. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001697 |
| Added to NRHP | November 14, 1991 |
The Hunt Armory (also called the Pittsburgh Armory) is a historic building in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An armory is a place where military groups store weapons and train. This building was designed by architects from W.G. Wilkins Co..
Construction on the armory began around 1909 and finished in 1916. It cost about $450,000 back then. The building was named after Captain Alfred E. Hunt. He was a hero from the Spanish–American War. He was also a smart businessman who started a company that later became Alcoa, a huge aluminum producer. The Hunt Armory is very big, covering a whole city block. It is about 56,000 square feet!
A Place for Big Events
For many years, the Hunt Armory was one of Pittsburgh's main places for large gatherings. It was like a big concert hall or meeting place. Before the Pittsburgh Civic Arena opened in 1961, the Hunt Armory was the largest indoor space in the city.
It hosted many exciting events, including concerts and important political speeches. People would gather there to see famous leaders and performers.
Famous Visitors and Shows
The Hunt Armory saw many important people and events. Here are some examples:
- October 20, 1944: Thomas E. Dewey, who was running to become president, spoke here.
- October 23, 1948: President Harry S. Truman visited, and more than 25,000 people came to see him.
- September 7 - October 4, 1952: The famous speaker Billy Graham held his "Pittsburgh crusades" here.
- October 27, 1952: Dwight D. Eisenhower, another person running for president, gave a speech.
- October 30, 1952: Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson spoke to the crowd.
- October 9, 1956: President Eisenhower returned to the armory.
- October 31, 1956: Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson spoke again, this time to 12,000 people.
- January 21, 1969: The famous rock band Led Zeppelin performed a concert.
Even after the Civic Arena was built, the Armory continued to be used for different events. For example, it hosted the Handmade Arcade, which is a popular craft fair.
What's Happening Now?
The Hunt Armory is no longer used by the military. Plans are being made to give the building a new purpose. The City's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is working on ideas to bring the historic building back to life.
The Hunt Armory is a very important building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 14, 1991. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history. It also became a City of Pittsburgh historic landmark on February 25, 2014.
