New York State Armory
Also known as: Arsenal, The
Why it's listed
Built in 1858 on a rise above the Oswegatchie River in Ogdensburg, this two-story stone armory was designed to resemble a medieval fortress. Syracuse architect Horatio Nelson White, himself a militia officer, planned it with a crenellated tower, corbeled parapet and a rounded entrance meant to recall a sally port. It cost $10,000 and held ordnance, small arms and ammunition for the state militia until 1873, when New York sold it to the city for $1,000. The city used it for waterworks storage, and it was later rented as a furniture warehouse and shop. A fire in 1895 destroyed the interior, and the shell sat vacant until 1911, when it was rebuilt for the Water Commission. City engineers had offices there from 1934 to 1960, after which a local corporation took it over. Despite alterations, it is regarded as an early example of Gothic Revival civic architecture in northern New York.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a typical example of the local arms storage facilities the state built across New York in the nineteenth century. It is also a significant early example of Gothic Revival civic architecture in northern New York, designed during White's most creative period. The state militia occupied it until 1873, and the city later put it to municipal use.
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 76002174, listed December 12, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 Lafayette St., Ogdensburg |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | December 12, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002174 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1858-1873 |
| Architect / builder | Horatio Nelson White (1814-1892) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered after fires and renovations; used as offices, with a local corporation maintaining its executive offices there at the time of nomination. Condition rated good. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 44.69064, -75.49298 (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 76002174.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707088
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.