Cranston Street Armory

The Cranston Street Armory is an historic building in Providence, Rhode Island. It was built in 1907 at a cost of $650,000.00. The building was occupied by the Rhode Island National Guard from its opening until 1996. Since then, parts of the building have been used as film studios, and some of its offices occupied by the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the Armory as one of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places" in its annual list for 1997. Its distinctive yellow bricks, crenellated turrets, and decorative stonework mark it as a historically significant building and neighborhood icon.HistoryThe architects were William R. Walker & Son and the buider was Michael J. Houlihan. The armory was built with a steel-truss frame, with a large open central hall and two towers with a total of 165000sqft of space. The main hall alone is as wide as two football fields. After World War I, the armory was used by 243rd Coast Artillery, and in later years by the 43rd and 118th as well.On account of its imposing presence, the Cranston Street Armory has lent its name to the surrounding area of Providence's West End, which is often known as the "Armory District." Several area businesses also take their name from this building.The films Outside Providence (1999) and Underdog (2007) were filmed using the open areas within the Armory for bluescreen work, as well as exterior shots of adjacent areas.