Medieval Fortress

The Portland Armory is historic castle-like structure located in the in Portland, OR. Originally covering a full block in the NW Industrial area, the armory was a combination of 2 buildings, one built in 1888 and a second, the Annex, built in 1891. The original armory was demolished in 1968. The other half, the Annex, remains today as a theatre. The Armory has an interesting story.

The Armory in 1914 on corner of NW 10th and Couch looking NW. This corner was demolished in 1968.

The Armory as seen from NW 10th and Davis. Looking SW. Circa 1970. This corner still exists.

The Armory in 2022.

The Armory in 1908 seen from NW 11th Ave and Davis. Looking SE. Note bell on roof and square corner turret. This part of the armory still exists as a theatre. 

Pictured above is the armory in 1999. The skywalk and roll up door are visualized. When the armory was remodeled into a theatre, the roll up door was removed, the arched entrance restored and now functions as the main entrance while the skywalk was removed, patched and blended with new brick. 

The NW corner of the Armory, 2022. The new, 15-storycondiminiums dwarf the old armory. 

Architects: William F. McCaw and Richard F. Martin

Address: 109 NW 10th Ave, Portland OR (old)

128 NW 11th Ave, Portland OR (current)

Original cost of armory land: $15,250

Armory construction cost: $40,000

Cornerstone laid: August 6, 1887

Opened: January 10, 1888

Annex size: 20,000 square feet

Seating capacity: 2400

In May of 1887, the Oregon Legislature passed a law authorizing construction of armories in towns with a population greater than 10,000. On August 6, 1887 the cornerstone of the First Regiment Armory was laid on NW 10th Ave and Couch. The Portland Armory, as it would later be known, was completed in 1888. This building contained Officer's quarters, admin offices, gymnasium, library and a ball room. Upon completion, the armory was deemed insufficient in size, so a twin building, called the Annex was built. Each building measured 200 feet x 100 feet. The second building was built on the north side and blended the perimeter stone walls with the original armory. From the outside, it looked like one contiguous building resembling a fortress. The interior roof structure was made of 100-foot arched wooden trusses that created a dome resembling a cathedral inside. It featured a balcony above with seating for 1000 people. Located in the basement was a 200 foot long brick tunnel fitted for a rifle range. It included targets and graduated ammunition to simulate 200, 300 and 500 yard ranges. The Annex roof featured a large rectangular skylight. The armory was a unique example of architecture that blended both Romanesque Revival and Castellated Gothic. The top of the walls were notched forming a battlement roofline. Turrets added to the castle effect. Designed by architects William F. McCaw and Richard Martin, the armory was constructed from local quarry material The armory was 2.5 stories high. Basalt stones formed the first story with red brick on the upper story. The annex is also an example of old military architecture designed for close quarter combat with rifles and repelling attackers. The fortress-like structure has a recessed arched entrance flanked by turrets above. The turrets have crenelated parapets and loophole vertical gun slots. The first regiment to occupy the armory was composed of 250 men: Oregon's National Guard, First Regiment, First Infantry and Battery A, First Artillery group. Weapons of the day included two .45-caliber Gatling guns and 2 old style Napoleon cannons. At the time, it was the only battery in the state. 

In 1968, Blitz Weinhard purchased the armory complex for brewery expansion. Later that same year, they demolished the original armory (south half) and built a new warehouse and parking lot. They converted the Annex into a storage facility and cut a new opening to connect the Annex to the new warehouse. They also built a skywalk from the brewery over NW 11th Ave into the upper story of the west side of the Annex. The west side entrance was modified and a roll-up door replaced the original stone archway. 

In 1998, the Blitz Weinhard Brewery was closed and moved to Tumwater, Washington. This closure vacated the buildings and remaining Annex. At this point, the armory began to fall into disrepair with lack of maintenance. 

Armory Remodel

Beginning in 2001, the remaining portion of the armory began an extensive remodel that would last 5 years. When it was finished, the armory would touted as the key piece in the Brewery Blocks, however, it would lose some key architectural style elements such as the castellated roof line and stone columns and other key details.  

The armory on the corner of NW 10th and Couch seen here in 1953. The entire south half of the armory (left side of photo) was demolished in 1968 and made into a parking lot. Today, the Henry Condominiums occupy this space.

Architectural Elements of the Armory

The armory is often called a Romanesque Revival or Castellated Gothic style of architecture. Key features include:

Large gables with no overhang

Arched windows

Arched entrances

Recessed windows

Rounded towers

Octagonal turrets

Tall, narrow windows

Stone pattern construction

Rock faced masonry

Time Line

1887  Armory construction begins

1928  Proposal to replace armory with newer building fails

1935  Building inspectors deem armory unsafe/fire hazard

1940  General White calls armory an "old cow barn"

1948  Armory takes in Vanport flood refugees

1950  Portland Wrestling begins matches in the armory  

1968  New National Guard armory built on NE 33rd Ave

1968  Blitz Weinhard buys armory for $302,600

1968  BW tears down original part of armory to build warehouse/parking lot

1979 Blitz Weinhard is sold to Pabst Brewing Company

1996  Pabst Brewing sells to Stroh's

1999  Stroh's sells Blitz beer brand to Miller Brewing Co

1999  Armory purchased by Gerding/Edlen Development

2000  Gerd/Ed buy the 5 "Brewery Blocks" for $19.5M

2003  Center Stage tabs armory as new home

2005  Construction begins converting armory into theater

2006  Center Stage/Gerding Theater at the Armory opens