Copperopolis Armory
Why it's listed
Built in 1864 by public subscription, this one-story brick building on Main Street in Copperopolis was the armory of the Union Guard, also called the Copperopolis Blues, during the last years of the Civil War. Men enlisted, trained and stored arms and uniforms here, and the town held rallies, military balls and Lincoln funeral observances in the hall. After the war it became a meeting hall, and from 1868 it housed the Odd Fellows lodge until the group moved in 1903. It is the only surviving armory in Calaveras County and the only brick armory in the Southern Mother Lode. The simple Vernacular Greek Revival design has common-bond brick walls, relieving arches, French doors and metal shutters on a stone foundation. A rear addition and a hip roof were added early; a porch and bathroom came later. Since 1940 it has served as a community hall.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving armory in Calaveras County and the only brick armory in the Southern Mother Lode, and it served the Union Guard during the Civil War. It later became a public hall and an Odd Fellows lodge, making it a social and fraternal center until 1903. It also typifies simple Vernacular Greek Revival brick commercial building of the early 1860s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 97001588, listed December 30, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 695 Main St., Copperopolis |
|---|---|
| County | Calaveras County |
| Listed | December 30, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001588 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1864-1903 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century, Greek Revival (Vernacular Greek Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Military, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use as a community hall since 1940, with dances, bingo games, meetings and social events; the building appears to be in largely 1860s condition apart from minor alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.97604, -120.63544 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 97001588.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681778
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.