Jersey City Armory facts for kids

Facade on Montgomery Street from corner of Summit Avenue

The Jersey City Armory is a large building in Jersey City, New Jersey. It's located at 678 Montgomery Street, close to McGinley Square. This armory is a special place with a double life!

First, it's a military training center for the New Jersey National Guard. Soldiers use it to practice and get ready. But it's also a popular spot for sports. Many exciting events happen here, like boxing matches, basketball games, and track and field competitions. More recently, it has even hosted mixed martial arts events.

The armory is managed by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs. They let the city use it for community events and sports programs for kids. It has even been used as a place to film movies!

Building the Armory: A Look at its Design

The Jersey City Armory was built to replace an older armory. The first one burned down in 1927. You can still see a piece of the old armory today! An arch at Pershing Field park in Jersey City Heights was once part of its entrance.

How the Armory was Constructed

The new armory was finished in 1937. It was a big project by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that created jobs during a tough time in history. The building is designed in a style called Beaux-Arts. It also has details from the English Renaissance.

The armory has a strong granite base. Its outside walls are made of brick, with fancy terra cotta decorations. Inside, the building is huge, covering 175,000 square feet!

Modern Upgrades and Repairs

Between 2005 and 2009, the armory got a big makeover. About $5.7 million was spent to make it better. They added a new, modern running track. A new basketball court was installed, along with new lights and a cool four-sided scoreboard. The building also got new locker rooms and restrooms. In 2010, the sidewalks around the armory were fixed too.

Exciting Events at the Armory

The New Jersey National Guard has many armories across New Jersey. Some of these buildings are used for more than just military training. For example, the Teaneck Armory was once home to the New Jersey Nets basketball team for their first season.

Boxing History in Jersey City

Both the old and new armories in Jersey City have a rich history with boxing. The area has seen many famous fights. One of the biggest was the 1921 world heavyweight championship between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. That fight happened at a place called Boyle's Thirty Acres.

The current armory has hosted many boxing matches. Famous boxers like James J. Braddock, Sonny Liston, and Chuck Wepner have fought there. In 1979, a special event took place. The mayor of Jersey City, Thomas F. X. Smith, had an exhibition match with the legendary Muhammad Ali. About 8,000 people watched them go three rounds!

More recently, the armory has welcomed new kinds of fights. In 2010, the first mixed martial arts event in 30 years was held there. Trials for the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup 2011 also took place at the armory in 2011.

Basketball and Other Sports

The armory's arena is also a popular spot for basketball. St. Anthony High School, a very famous team, plays games there. They have won New Jersey's Tournament of Champions ten times! Their coach, Bob Hurley, is a legend and helped with the armory's renovations.

Since 2005, the annual Dan Finn Classic has been held at the armory. This event is a day of basketball games. It honors Dan Finn, a student who passed away but helped others through organ donation.

Before it had its own gym, Saint Peter's College used the armory for its home basketball games. They still use it sometimes for big games.

Track and Field and Wrestling

Many track meets are held at the armory. These include local, regional, and state competitions. Professional wrestling events, put on by Jersey All Pro Wrestling, have also taken place in the arena.

Community Gatherings

The armory is also used for important community events. In 2004, a memorial service for Jersey City mayor Glenn Dale Cunningham was held there. About 5,000 people attended. In 2007, his wife, Sandra Bolden Cunningham, started her political career at the armory.

In 2006, a large funeral for Jersey City Police officer Robert Nguyen took place at the armory. He and his partner had died in an accident. The ceremony included traditional bagpipes and Buddhist monks, honoring Nguyen's Vietnamese-American background.

The Armory as a Film Studio

Because of its large open space and high ceilings, the armory is often used as a temporary film studio. Many movies and music videos have been filmed there.

Some famous projects include:

• A Bronx Tale (directed by Robert De Niro)
• Eyes Of Laura Mars (a thriller with Faye Dunaway)
• Laura Branigan's music video "Self-Control"
• Deconstructing Harry (by Woody Allen)
• Diminished Capacity (by Terry Kinney)
• A Perfect Murder (by Andrew Davis)
• Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999, by Jim Jarmusch)

Getting to the Jersey City Armory

The Jersey City Armory is located in the Journal Square area of the city. It's near the beautiful Art Deco building called Beacon.

Public Transportation Options

The Journal Square Transportation Center is nearby. From there, you can take PATH rapid transit trains. These trains connect to Newark, Downtown Jersey City, Hoboken, and Manhattan.

Local buses also stop close by or at the train station. These buses can take you to other parts of Hudson County and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Montgomery – West Side buses pass right by the armory's main entrance.

Parking Information

There is no parking available directly at the armory. However, there are many parking lots within a short walking distance.