Welcome to
The Historic Warren Armory
Located at 11 Jefferson Street, Warren, RI
To schedule a tour of The Historic Warren Armory, please email Tim Pray at timothyapray@gmail.com.
Featured Museum Items
Cotton Military Trousers circa 1910.
Warren Artillery’s Quick Step Sheet Music Date: 1846 Composer: Charles E. Bennett Publisher: C.M. Keith’s Music Publishing House, Boston, MA
Wood Tampion & Iron Cannonballs circa 1842
Venetian Canal Scene mural in the Armory Drill Hall. Re-created from an 1871 stereopticon card by local Artist Richard Kaiser in 2013.
Military Hat (c. 1842) Made of wool, leather, and metal, this hat was likely worn during the Dorr Rebellion (1841–1842), a Rhode Island uprising against outdated voting laws that restricted suffrage to property-owning men.
A commemorative pin made of silk to recognize the Warren Artillery's 50th Anniversary. Circa 1892
Cannon "Pallas" (c. 1765) Cast in Strasbourg, France, by the John Francois Berlinger Foundry, this iron six-pounder saw action in the Battle of Saratoga (1778), the War of 1812, and the 1842 Dorr Rebellion. Designed to fire 6-pound projectiles about 3.5 inches in diameter, it played a role in key moments of American history.
Military Belt Buckle (c. 1860) This cast brass buckle, used by the Rhode Island military, was likely manufactured by Anson Mills, a Texas-based supplier of belt buckles during the Civil War era.
This two-wheeled wooden cart, called a Limber, was essential for transporting cannons, carrying ammunition, and supporting artillery movement. Pulled by a team of six horses, it featured an ammunition chest for supplies and an iron pintle for towing, playing a vital role in battlefield mobility.
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To schedule a tour, please email Tim Pray at timothyapray@gmail.com.
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A small museum is located in the 1896 Room which prominently features the Revolutionary War cannon and limber given to the Warren Artillery Company for their support of the State Governor during the 1842 Dorr’s Rebellion.
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Armory Hall, reputedly designed by renowned 19th-century Rhode Island architect Russell Warren, is a one-story Gothic Revival Norman French structure featuring a gable roof and two hexagonal turrets with wooden castellated towers. The turrets, made of stucco-covered brick and fieldstone, contain lancet (arrow loop) windows, while the hall’s double-hung windows have diamond panes. Originally built symmetrically at 40’ x 35’ with native fieldstone walls, the armory was expanded in 1874 by 13 feet to accommodate a performing stage. In 1896, a 14’ x 30’ utility room—now called the 1896 Room—was added to the northeast corner. Armory Hall stands as a uniquely designed historical armory, distinct in Rhode Island and beyond.
Restoration began in 2008 under the American Legion Warren Post 11 and continued after the Town of Warren acquired the building in 2010. The armory, which had been closed for five years, reopened in August 2013. By 2019, completed renovations included a new roof system, upgraded electrical, heating, and air-conditioning, an ADA-compliant restroom, a new kitchen, and the restoration of key architectural features such as the 19 arrow loop turret windows, ten diamond-pane public hall windows, the 1874 stage, public hall paintings, and two replicated exterior lanterns. The interior was also fully repainted, preserving the armory’s historic character.
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The mission of Historic Warren Armory is to revitalize and restore the 1842 Warren Artillery Company Armory to its historic architectural design and to maintain and operate the armory for use by the Warren community and all State residents and organizations for military and social activities, and events.
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Armory Hall offers two distinct spaces available for rent, which can be booked separately or together:
Public/Drill Hall – A spacious venue measuring 33’ x 66’, ideal for large gatherings, events, and ceremonies.
1896 Room – A smaller, more intimate space perfect for meetings, receptions, and private functions.
Both rooms provide a historic setting with unique architectural charm, making them a great choice for various events.
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