Park Avenue Armory

A unique structure that is part American palace and part industrial shed, Park Avenue Armory was built between 1877 and 1881. The building was constructed by the Seventh Regiment of the National Guard, the first volunteer militia to respond to President Lincoln's call to arms during the Civil War in 1861. Serving both as a military facility and a social club, Park Avenue Armory was lauded by architects upon its construction and has been recognized by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission for its important historical and cultural legacy.

In 2007, more than a century after its founding, the armory opened its doors to visual and performing artists requiring non-traditional spaces to fully realize their unconventional works of art. Spanning media, style, and form, these projects are united in their shared spirit of bold experimentation. In addition to its expansive arts programming, performances, and exhibition space, the armory oversees several arts education initiatives that have reached more than 1.1 million New York City public school students to date.