Does anybody know anything about the gothic styled building next to the Famous Barr Warehouse alongside highway 40? It has always caught my eye but it seems that I am never able to find anything on it.
Missouri National Guard Armory building in Midtown
Missouri National Guard Armory building in Midtown
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I think this is the building (The one with the brown vaulted roof.)
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image. ... =42794&W=1
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image. ... =42794&W=1
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Yes, it is the former National Guard Armory you are thinking about. Every once in a while I hear someone "wish" something for this building... I think the last time it was some type of museum? From what I can gather on the Internet, it had been used for concert venues, once housed indoor tennis courts, and now is home to indoor softball fields.
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Thank you guys! 
This building is definitely one of my top ten favorite buildings in the city.
hmm that gives me an ideal for another thread.
This building is definitely one of my top ten favorite buildings in the city.
hmm that gives me an ideal for another thread.
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That building was indeed the National Guard Armory for many years. The last that I heard, someone was contemplating re-opening it as an indoor sporting facility. I recall that it was used as an indoor soccer facility for a few years in the mid-1990's.
The building still provides basement parking for Famous Barr employees, so there's a chance you may be able to get a peek at some of it.
The building still provides basement parking for Famous Barr employees, so there's a chance you may be able to get a peek at some of it.
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I remember that place was often used for underground rave parties.
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I finally went and checked the building out close up. The entrance into the basement was left wide open and I almost went in there. I really hope something is done with it soon it might make a good concert venue or some kind fitness center.
ecoabsence maybe you should do a tour of this building for your website.
Here are some pics.
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ecoabsence maybe you should do a tour of this building for your website.
Here are some pics.
Besides 90% of St. Louisans not knowing how to get there, why isn't this fantastic building used or rehabbed? Or is it and I just don't know about it? Last I heard (and this was over ten years ago) it was an indoor softball field.
If anyone has pictures of the inside, I would love to see them!
If anyone has pictures of the inside, I would love to see them!
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Used to have an indoor softball/baseball field, batting cages, driving range...
Gateway indoor sportsplex or something like that.
Gateway indoor sportsplex or something like that.
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I believe the Gratefull Dead played there in the 70's .....
could be wrong though ... info from deadhead freinds is inherently suspect
could be wrong though ... info from deadhead freinds is inherently suspect
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well I was never a true deadhead but I did live in Amsterdam for awhile so I suppose my info is suspect as well ...
anyway - wasn't the armory the site of a civil war battle as well?
anyway - wasn't the armory the site of a civil war battle as well?
You my be thinking of the land just east of the old St. Louis Arsenal, at the foot of what is now, go figure, Arsenal Street.
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Perhaps you are thinking of the battle at Lindell Grove, the present site of SLU.markofucity wrote:wasn't the armory the site of a civil war battle as well?
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^ bumping the thread cause I want to know if anyone has pics of the interior as well.
I was there at the Grateful Dead concert which I think was 1970 or 1971. Steppenwolf was also on the bill. Both were great, but the place was extremely smoky. I think there was a third band and it might have been a local group. I remember that there were no no seats. You either sat on the floor or stood throughout the concert. It was what was called a "happening". It was packed.
When I was at SLUH from 1998-2001, we had indoor football practices there every once in a while when the weather was very bad... or when there was a chance we would go the the state final in the dome (we lost to Mehlville in the semi's).
There is a large indoor field/arena with amazing architecture in there. This could be made into a great, unigue fitness complex. THis is a great building and hopefully someone rehabs it.
There is a large indoor field/arena with amazing architecture in there. This could be made into a great, unigue fitness complex. THis is a great building and hopefully someone rehabs it.
The building is a slam dunk for the National Register on multiple levels. You could easily argue architecture, association with labor unrest and factors that drove armory construction around the country in the early 20th century, and easily, easily, argue its significance to Tennis. Yes, Tennis. Jimmie Connors, Arthur Ash, Dwight Davis, etc were all highly associated with the building as young players when it housed one of the best and earliest indoor playing/training facilities in the country. Unfortunately, my understanding is that the owners have made their intention to block any nomination quite clear. What are you gonna do? No NR listing, no tax credits. No tax credits, almost certainly no rehab.
The Armory concerts were in 1968. About 100 people attended the first night, 250 the second. I can't find any record of Steppenwolf having been there. Best I can tell, the opening (and intermission) act was something called the Public Service Blues Band.
Even I'm too young to remember the Armory concert, but I do remember being able to hear the Dead from my nearby 'hood when they played the WashU quad in 1969.
1968 program/poster:
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Even I'm too young to remember the Armory concert, but I do remember being able to hear the Dead from my nearby 'hood when they played the WashU quad in 1969.
1968 program/poster:
