32nd St. and Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia Armory
Why it's listed
Built in 1916 in the Classical Revival style, this three-story brick armory on Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia was constructed for a cavalry squadron of the Pennsylvania National Guard at a cost of about $150,000. Its trapezoidal plan follows a block bounded by Thirty-Second, Thirty-Third and Cuthbert Streets, with a parking lot originally included between the rear elevation and Cuthbert Street. The south facade has a central two-story stone arch flanked by paired Roman Doric columns, an enriched entablature and an eagle above the entrance. Inside, offices, a kitchen, locker rooms and classrooms line double-loaded corridors, a two-story gymnasium occupies the front, and a large drill hall with arched trusses fills the rear. The building was designed by Philip H. Johnson, who had designed at least five armories in southeastern Pennsylvania between 1909 and 1916. It is significant for its association with the state's military and training functions and for its architecture by Johnson, whose armories form a related group.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the armory is significant under criteria A and C as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard Armories property type. It was built in 1916 for a cavalry squadron and was designed by Philip H. Johnson, who designed at least five armories in southeastern Pennsylvania between 1909 and 1916. The building retains good integrity with few major changes.
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 91001703, listed November 14, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of 32nd St. and Lancaster Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 14, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001703 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1916-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Johnson, Philip H. (architect); Fidelity Construction Company (builder); Poroling, George P. and Company (builder) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Within district | Powelton Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.95709, -75.18987 (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 91001703.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4635112
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.