America's Armories: Architecture, Society and Public Order - Robert M. Fogelson - Hardcover Book

During the late 19th century & early 20th centuries, hundreds of armories were built in urban America. It was in these imposing & formidable structures that the national guard, then the countrys principal peacekeeping & strikebreaking force, stored its arms & ammunition, socialized, drilled, & assembled in the event of an uprising. In some areas, the armories also served as schools or clubhouses. For half a century these armories stood as powerful symbols of the might of the state & its determination to maintain order at any cost. Fogelson reveals much about our history & the often invisible forces that have shaped our city landscapes. Illus.