Kingsbridge Armory, The Bronx

Looking west at the Kingsbridge Armory on July 21, 1914.
Museum of the City of New York

Kingsbridge Armory

Also known as the Eighth Regiment Armory located on West Kingsbridge Road. It was built in the 1910s to house the National Guard's Eighth Coastal Artillery Regiment which relocated from Manhattan in 1917. Possibly the largest armory in the World. After World War II, the City offered it to the United Nations as a temporary meeting place.

Looking northeast at the Kingsbridge Armory on July 18, 1914
Museum of the City of New York

In 1911, the New York State Legislature authorized construction of the Armory using an excavated area that was planned to have been the eastern basin for Jerome Park Reservoir. Some military artifacts were unearther in the area, believed to have been from nearby Revolutionary War forts including Independence and Number Five.

After the second world war, the City offered it's use to the United Nations General Assembly as a temporary meeting place until the main UN Building was finished.

In 1974, it was designated a New York City landmark. It's military use ended in 1996 and was turned over to the City to manage. The State Division of Military and Naval Affairs transferred title of the Armory and it's property to the City.

In 2006, Warner Bros. rented the armory for six months to film the Will Smith movie I Am Legend. Efforts continue to redevelop the armory.

The Armory occupies the enitre 5-acre block. It's boundaries are West Kingsbridge Road to the South, Jerome Avenue to the East, West 195th Street to the North and Reservoir Avenue to the West. Barnhill Square is the junction of West Kingsbridge Road and Reservoir Avenue.

An empty moat encircles the building. The Building is nine stories of red brick with a metal roof. The 8th Regiment dates back to 1786.

Looking west at the Kingsbridge Armory (1915)
Museum of the City of New York

Looking east at the Kingsbridge Armory (1915)
Museum of the City of New York

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