San Francisco National Guard Armory and Arsenal
historic place
The San Francisco National Guard Armory and Arsenal is a historic building located in San Francisco, California. Constructed between 1912 and 1914, it was designed by the firm of Woollett and Woollett. The building features a Moorish Revival style, giving it a fortress-like appearance. This armory replaced an earlier one destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. Beyond its military function, the Armory served as a social center for National Guardsmen. From the 1920s through the 1940s, it became San Francisco's primary sports venue, hosting numerous prizefights and earning the nickname "the Madison Square Garden of the West." In 1934, the Armory acted as a rallying point for the National Guard during the San Francisco General Strike. The National Guard vacated the building in 1976. In 1978, the San Francisco National Guard Armory and Arsenal was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also San Francisco City Landmark number 108. This site is significant for its architecture, its military history, and its role in the city's social and sporting life.