State Armory

History

The State Armory is a historic armory building at 29 Howard Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. Built in 1895, it is a prominent and distinctive example of Gothic architecture in the city's downtown. The building was the first that was purpose-built for the local militia, and was in its later years home to the South End Community Center. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It was extensively damaged by the Greater Springfield tornado on June 1, 2011, in which the rear drill shed of the building was reduced to rubble.

The building was sold by the City of Springfield to MGM Resorts for $1.6 million in 2014 as part of the MGM Springfield redevelopment project, a mixed use redevelopment including casino, hotel, movie theatres, skating rink, restaurants, and shops. While the Drill Shed and rear of building was lost, the stone structure was fully restored on the exterior with the interior stabilized and cleared out. The building currently houses ROAR Comedy Club, a stand-up comedy club operated by MGM Springfield.

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