The University of Minnesota Armory is a building on the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

campus in

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origi ...

. The Armory was constructed in 1896 after the previous space for military training on the campus burnt in a fire in 1894."History and Philosophy of Reserver Officer Training." University of Minnesota ROTC Alumni Society. http://www.umnrotcalumnisociety.org/history.php The facility served as the primary home for the

Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represents the University of Minnesota in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Golden Gophers competes in the Big Ten Conference and play their home games at the Williams Arena. ...

team as well as the

University of Minnesota Marching Band The University of Minnesota Marching Band (also known as UMMB, Minnesota Marching Band, and The Pride of Minnesota) is the marching band of the University of Minnesota and the flagship university band for the state of Minnesota. The Pride of Minne ...

after its construction. The basketball team moved to the

Kenwood Armory The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is an park in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the United States. It is located near the Walker Art Center, which operates it in coordination with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. It reopened June 10, 201 ...

Downtown Minneapolis The Central Minneapolis community is located in the central part of the city, consisting of 6 smaller official neighborhoods, and includes Downtown Minneapolis and the central business district. It also includes the many old Gristmill, flour ...

in 1925 while the band moved to the newly completed Music Education Building in 1922. Fielding H. Yost,

Michigan Wolverines football The Michigan Wolverines football team represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins in college football history. The team is known for its ...

coach, forgot the Little Brown Jug, one of the oldest

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football in the United States, American football rules first gained populari ...

traveling trophies, in the locker rooms of the Armory in 1903. The Armory was also the facility used for the University of Minnesota physical education department until 1935."History." University of Minnesota Air Force ROTC. http://www.afrotc.umn.edu/History/Armory.htm The school's football team played some of their early games on the open field next to the Armory. It is a

contributing property In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distric ...

in the

University of Minnesota Old Campus Historic District The University of Minnesota Old Campus Historic District is a historic district located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1984, it includes a number of historic buildings that were constructed du ...

, a historic district that is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

. Currently, it is used as the classrooms and office space of the University's three

ROTC The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC ( or )) is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces. Overview While ROTC graduate officers serve in al ...

units, and offices for the University's program for High School students, with the gymnasium being available for campus activities. Outside the Armory building, there is a nine foot tall statue of a soldier on a seven-ton, six-foot-high

Vermont Vermont () is a U.S. state, state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York (state), New York to the west, and the Provin ...

granite pedestal. It is called "Iron Mike" and a memorial plaque underneath reads: "erected in honor of the students of the University who served their country in the war with Spain, 1898-99.” Sculptor

Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson (January 29, 1871 – October 29, 1932), also known as Tho. A. R. Kitson and Theo Alice Ruggles, was an American sculptor. Life Kitson was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Cyrus W. and Anna H. Ruggles. As a youn ...

designed the statue, which was commissioned and paid for by a committee that had originally been formed to send Christmas gifts to student soldiers in the 13th Minnesota Regiment, who were stationed in

Manila Manila ( , ; fil, Maynila, ), officially the City of Manila ( fil, Lungsod ng Maynila, ), is the capital of the Philippines, and its second-most populous city. It is highly urbanized and, as of 2019, was the world's most densely populated ...

. Professor Arthur E. Haynes, who chaired this committee, suggested doing something more than just sending gifts. He donated the first ten dollars and led the fundraising and process of designing the statue. It was unveiled in 1906.

References

8. "The History of the Armory" https://arotc.umn.edu/history {{DEFAULTSORT:University Of Minnesota Armory Armories on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Defunct college basketball venues in the United States Defunct college football venues Historic district contributing properties in Minnesota National Register of Historic Places in Minneapolis Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball venues Minnesota Golden Gophers football venues Sports venues in Minneapolis Event venues on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota