Eighth Regiment Armory, arsenaal in Illinois, Verenigde Staten van Amerika
The Eighth Regiment Armory is a large brick structure on South Giles Avenue featuring limestone trim and tall arched wooden doors that convey a fortress-like appearance. Designed by architect James Dibelka in 1915, the building now houses the Chicago Military Academy and contains a main hall with plaques honoring the regiment's soldiers.
The armory was built in 1915 to house the Eighth Regiment, the first African-American National Guard unit with black officers. During World War I, the regiment served with French forces in France and achieved combat success, though it faced racial discrimination upon returning home.
The building served as a gathering place for African-American leaders and artists. In 1936, the National Negro Congress convened here, bringing together prominent figures like A. Philip Randolph and writer Richard Wright to discuss workers' rights and community issues.
The building is located in the Bronzeville neighborhood along South Giles Avenue and is easy to spot from the street. It currently operates as a public high school, so interior access may be limited during school hours, but the exterior facade and the adjacent Victory Monument are viewable from the sidewalk at any time.
The gavel used at the 1936 National Negro Congress was made from wood believed to come from the Clotilda, the last slave ship to bring Africans to America, connecting the meeting to a long history of struggle. After decades of abandonment and deterioration in the 1960s, the building underwent a major restoration in 1999.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
