Title
Endorsement of Olympia Armory National Register Nomination
Recommended Action
Move to endorse the Olympia Armory's application to be included in the National Register of Historic Places and forward to City Council for consideration.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend the Heritage Commission's endorsement to City Council regarding the Olympia Armory's Application to be included in the National Register of Historic Places and the Washington Heritage Register.
Staff Contact:
Brittany Gillia, Historic Preservation Officer, 360.753.8427
Presenter(s):
Brittany Gillia
Background and Analysis:
An application for the National Guard Armory- Olympia (Olympia Armory) to be included to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) was submitted to Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in June 2024. This property was listed locally on the Olympia Heritage Register on May 4, 2021 as seen on City Council Agenda Item File Number 21-0391.
The Olympia Armory is eligible for the national register under criteria A and C for its architectural style and integrity, as well as for its association with important events that have contributed significantly to the broad patterns of Olympia and national history. Built in 1939, the Armory is part of a long history of Army National Guard and Militia presence in Olympia from the earliest days of Washington Territory. It played an important role in Washington State and US costal defense systems as well as other operations during WWII.
Alongside its military history, the Armory has been important to Olympia's community history as a familiar, well-used venue and community gathering space. It has hosted everything from auto shows and ski swaps, to graduations and State Inaugural Balls.
The Olympia Armory is also significant because it carries the distinctive characteristics of the Art Moderne style of the Public Works Administration period, unchanged since it's construction. Designed by Olympia's prolific, premi...
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