Olean Armory

New York, United States

Exterior only

Visible from the street; the inside is private.

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Located in Olean, Cattaraugus County, New York, this historic armory is a composite structure blending two distinct architectural vocabularies. The complex began in 1890 with a Romanesque drill shed designed by State architect Isaac G. Perry, later supplemented in 1919 by a two-story Tudor Revival administration building created by State architect Lewis Pilcher. The ensemble features castellated details including turrets and buttresses that reinforce its fortress-like character. Between 1946 and 1966, the armory served as the home arena for St. Bonaventure University's basketball team, whose roster won 99 consecutive home games before their streak ended in 1961. The intimate 2,200-seat venue became notorious for its cramped court proximity, poor lighting, and jarring aesthetics—Sports Illustrated famously termed it an "architectural monstrosity." The armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Movement

Tudor Revival architecture

Type: National Guard Armory
Heritage: National Register of Historic Places listed place
Place: New York, United States

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Location

42.07806, -78.42861