Overview
The Armory Park Historic Residential Neighborhood [†] covers approximately ninety significant historic and architectural structures across thirty-two city blocks. Established around 1880 with the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad, the area was developed as a residential district for railroad employees and their families, as well as Tucson’s affluent citizens in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The neighborhood remains largely intact, with some original families still residing in their historic homes.
Physical Description
- Primarily residential, with commercial activity along South Sixth Avenue and South Stone Avenue.
- Community features include two grocery stores, a drug store, a convent, a public library, a park, and many single-family homes.
- Wide streets and historic streetlights on South Fourth Avenue, which also supported the early 1900s trolley line.
Key Structures and Architectural Highlights
- Tucson Public Library (1900): Neo-classical revival brick building by Henry Trost, funded by a Carnegie grant. Features a memorial bench by Bernard Maybeck and Beniamino Buffano.
- Armory Park Military Plaza (est. 1862): Historic military site adjacent to the library.
- Blenman Home (1878): Adobe residence with Corinthian and Doric wood pillars.
- Healy House (1902): Greek Revival adobe by Trost, with Doric columns and stained glass.
- Glenwood Hotel (1908): Mission style with arched porches and a courtyard.
- Immaculate Heart Academy (1886): Two-story school built from hand-hewn rock.
- Velasco House (1860s): Mexican style adobe with saguaro rib ceilings, under restoration.
- Bernard/Ybarra House (1900): Queen Anne style with decorative wood trim and landscaped yard.
- Normart House: One of the oldest, Mexican style with zaguan plan and decorative tile.
- Lee/Cutler House (1910) and Galloway House (1904): Queen Anne style homes.
- Gin Soo Dung Market (1919): Historic corner grocery built by a Chinese immigrant.
- Martin House (c.1840): Adobe ranch house with a large veranda.
- McGinty/Laos House (1897): Anglo-Territorial style, once home to Arizona’s first U.S. Marshal.
- Weinzapfel/Brammeier House (1908) and Wood House (1895): Queen Anne style, with the latter now a boarding house.
- Kitt/Peterson House (1899): Greek Revival, associated with the family after whom Kitt Peak is named.
- Safford School (1884/1900): Mission style school, rebuilt after fire.
- Roskruge/Culin House (1896): Queen Anne style, designed by architects of Old Main at the University of Arizona.
- Ure Boarding House (1888): Two-story adobe, historically used by railroad workers.
Architectural Styles Represented
| Style | Examples |
|---|---|
| Queen Anne | Bernard/Ybarra House, Lee/Cutler House, Galloway House, Wood House, Roskruge/Culin House |
| Anglo-Territorial | McGinty/Laos House, Wells House, Dietz House |
| Mexican | Velasco House, Normart House, Guzauskas House, Keinow Apartments |
| Mission | Glenwood Hotel, Safford School, Hildebrand House |
| Sullivanesque | Davis House, Healy House |
| Bungalow | Weinsapple House, Sayre House |
Historic and Cultural Importance
- Closely linked to the expansion of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which spurred Tucson’s growth and architectural evolution.
- Exemplifies a cohesive, stable community with a rich mixture of architectural styles and social-cultural continuity.
- Many buildings are linked to prominent Tucsonans and key historical events, such as the establishment of the second transcontinental railroad and the city’s early educational and civic infrastructure.
Conclusion
Armory Park is a well-preserved historic district that illustrates Tucson’s architectural and social development from the late 19th century into the early 20th century, with a unique blend of styles and a strong connection to the city’s railroad heritage.
† Adapted from: Mrs. Anna B. Laos, President, Armory Park Neighborhood Association, Armory Park Residential Historic District,, nomination document, 1975, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.