Neighborhood

The Cranston Armory has always been tied to the surrounding neighborhood, the West End. The neighborhood is in fact often called the Armory District because the building holds a prominent place in Providences' skyline. It was the civic center in Providence up until 1981 when it was deemed unsafe for public events. Originally the Rhode Island National Guard did not want the building to be used for public events, but a resolution was passed in 1909 that allowed the first public event to be held there, the Booming Providence Banquet for Rhode Island Small Businesses. Since then the Cranston Armory has been used for a variety of public events ranging from local track meets and boxing matches to circuses and auto shows to inaugural balls and political rallies. It has become a symbol of and a source of pride for the neighborhood.