Twentythird Regiment Armory
Why it's listed
Rising at the corner of Atlantic and Bedford Avenues in Brooklyn's Crown Heights, this armory was built between 1891 and 1895 for the 23rd Regiment of the National Guard. Architects Fowler & Hough gave it the look of a medieval fortress, using dark red pressed brick, rough-faced Potsdam stone and terra-cotta detail. Round corner towers, one reaching 136 feet, a two-story arched entrance with a steel portcullis, and a vast drill hall behind the administration building define its character. Inside, the Council Room keeps its original furnishings, oak paneling, stained glass and a 24-foot fireplace faced in green glazed tile. A state grant of $300,000, secured by Colonel John N. Partridge, helped fund construction, and a fair raised nearly $70,000 to furnish the rooms. One of eight Brooklyn armories built before 1900, it has been in continuous use since 1895 and still serves National Guard training and storage needs.
Significance in brief: The armory is presented as an excellent, representative example of late 19th century military architecture, designed to resemble a medieval fortress with heavy walls, towers and crenelation. It was one of eight armories built in Brooklyn before 1900 and was praised for its monumental scale and detail. It is also tied to the history of the 23rd Regiment of the National Guard and to its richly furnished Council Room.
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 80002641, listed May 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1322 Bedford Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | May 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002641 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1891-95) |
| Architect / builder | Fowler & Hough |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In excellent condition and unaltered; in constant use since its dedication in 1895, still used for National Guard training and storage. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.67858, -73.95405 (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 80002641.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7857837
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.