The Armory (Key West)

The Armory is a historic site in Key West, Florida, United States. It is located at 600 White Street. In 1971, it was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.

The Armory
The old Armory on White Street
LocationKey West, Florida
Coordinates24.55969°N 81.79404°W / 24.55969; -81.79404
Area0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built1901
Built byJohn T. Sawyer
ArchitectT.F. Russell
Architectural styleGothic
NRHP reference No.71000243[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 11, 1971

The armory was built to support military training and readiness of local military reserves. In 1877, the "Key West Rifles", a voluntary military company, organized with 80 members. It was not very professional, and after the fire of 1886 destroyed all of its equipment, it ceased to exist. In 1888, a 32-member company named the "Island City Guards" was organized, which would eventually become Company 1, Second Regiment of Infantry, Florida State Troops. It is now part of the National Guard.[2]

Land for an armory was purchased by Monroe County in 1901. The armory was designed by T. F. Russell and built in 1901 by John T. Sawyer. In 1903, upon a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court, the state of Florida refunded the cost to the county and took ownership.[3]

In 2006, it became the home and initial campus of The Studios of Key West, a new artist community offering creative space, professional workshops, and other creative and cultural activities.[4]

After The Studios of Key West moved to their new headquarters, at 533 Eaton Street, in 2015, The Armory eventually became home to 12 artist studios. 'Artists at the Armory' are located on the second floor. The main hall is available for lease and is often used as a rehearsal space by local theater companies or as an exhibition space.[5]

The Historic Florida Keys Foundation (HFKF) leases the Armory from the State of Florida. The HFKF manages the Armory and oversees its maintenance. [6]

The Armory received a Historic Florida Keys Foundation Preservation Award in 2008.

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Exploring Florida: Key West: Militia". Retrieved April 5, 2017. (Excerpt from "Key West: The Old and the New" (1912) by Jefferson B. Browne)
  3. Betty Bruce and J.P. Schuck (September 15, 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: The Armory". National Park Service. Retrieved April 5, 2017. With photo from 1970.
  4. "The Studios of Key West". The Studios of Key West. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
  5. "Historic Properties". www.historicfloridakeys.org. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  6. "Historic Properties". www.historicfloridakeys.org. Retrieved 2020-07-15.


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