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Welcome

This site is developed and maintained by East End residents interested in Boise's Historic National Guard Armory; it's a way for all stakeholders to share facts and opinion regarding the Armory location, structure and future uses.


Like others, we've been curious about the Armory's historic uses, what it looks like inside, and how it might be transformed from a liability into an asset. We want to explore outcomes that might benefit the surrounding neighborhoods and Boise in general.


Check for updates or sign on to the RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed above to be alerted automatically to new entries, news or meetings. Visit links to the right to learn more.


Share your thoughts about the Armory itself, the roughly 5 acres surrounding it, and what your wish list would be for both. Potential uses may be constrained by zoning, financing and market considerations, although our sense so far is that the City of Boise and at least some developers are open to exploring creative ideas.


Enjoy.


Northeast Boise's Landmark

Short video clips showing the main Drill Hall and ceiling construction and rear shop/storage area. The Drill Hall’s barrel-vaulted ceiling encloses approximately 14,440 square feet. Note the trusses and roof structure in the close-up.

The original board forms for the pre-WWII concrete pour were recycled to span the trusses. The post WWII plywood forms used on the second story were recycled and cover the board forms and support the final roof finish.

The trusses were engineered only to support the roof and themselves; preliminary engineering studies indicate that the structural supports would need to be enhanced, even to add insulation.

The shop/storage area at the rear of the main structure has some use potential. Folks who have toured the structure have proposed that this might be one section of the structure that could be sacrificed without compromising the integrity of the main historic facade if there is a compelling need.