Kingston Armory
Why it's listed
Built in 1923 for the 109th Field Artillery of the Pennsylvania National Guard, the yellow brick armory in Wilkes-Barre has a U-shaped plan of three sections: an administration block, a drill hall, and stable wings extending behind it. Two-story arcades filled with metal casement windows run across the front and rear facades, and the drill hall has an arched monitor roof with clerestory windows. Its significance rests on its architecture and engineering. The arched truss system of the drill hall is regarded as a representative example of technology for spanning wide spaces, and the plan is considered unusual, with the building one of four large plans in Pennsylvania. The architect, Thomas H. Atherton of Wilkes-Barre, designed at least seven armories in central Pennsylvania between 1930 and 1938. Alterations include replaced windows and doors and an organizational maintenance shop added in the 1950s, though the building is still regarded as retaining good integrity.
Significance in brief: The armory is significant under criteria A and C as a member of the State Armory Building property type in the Pennsylvania National Guard Armories multiple property nomination. Its unique U-shaped plan and the arched truss system spanning the drill hall, regarded as a representative example of technology for spanning wide spaces, support its listing. It was designed by Thomas H. Atherton of Wilkes-Barre, who designed at least seven armories in central Pennsylvania.
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 89002084, listed December 21, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 280 Market St., Wilkes-Barre |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | December 21, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89002084 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Atherton, Thomas H. (architect) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Integrity is described as good; original wood windows and doors on the front and rear facades were replaced with aluminum and glass, stables were converted to offices and storage, and an Organizational Maintenance Shop was added in the 1950s. |
| Acreage | 12 |
| Coordinates | 41.25286, -75.89142 (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 89002084.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6413457
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.