Armory Square

Armory Square is an exciting new revitalization project for Historic Downtown Marietta. Sitting on 3.4 acres of land owned by the City of Marietta, the Ohio National Guard Armory was built in 1914. It was the site of many community events over the years, holding memories that range from sending off our troops to Friday night dances to basketball games. It has been vacant for more than ten years now, and residents voted in 2001 to keep the building as part of the downtown landscape.

In 2004, Mayor Michael Mullen began working with representatives from the Small Business Development Center, the Voinovich Center at Ohio University, and Davis Architectural Group to lay out a business plan for the armory. His vision is to make a multi-use community center, serving as a:

    -    world-class visitor center (featuring a one-stop ticket purchase center for all local attractions)

    -    transportation hub (public restrooms, access for CABL Bus Lines, taxis, tour buses, bicycle rentals, etc.)

    -    an Appalachian marketplace (showcasing local artisans as well as locally made Marietta souvenirs)

    -    and a facility to host community meetings, receptions, concerts, exhibits, and other special events.

This plan to make Armory Square once again an integral part of Marietta’s Downtown has attracted wide-ranging support. Partnerships have formed as progress is made to implement this plan:

Marietta/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (to operate the visitor center)

WASCO to act as the facility’s property management group

Washington/Morgan County Community Action (as part of the transportation hub)

Washington County Community Development Office

Ohio State Extension Office

Artists Community

Citizens for Armory Preservation (CAPS)

As a result of these partnerships, the Friends of the Armory group has been formed. They have been meeting monthly since 2006, working together to find the best means of funding, establish more partnerships, and begin the crucial step of educating the public on the many social and economic benefits of the Armory Square business plan. Estimated construction cost is approximately $1.6 million, with $1.2 million already secured.  The following funds have already been received:

$550,000 bequest from Emma Gutberlet (to be used as matching funds for grant applications)

$418,000 Transportation Enhancement Earmark from then Congressman Ted Strickland

$252,397 National Scenic Byways Grant

The City of Marietta has applied for the following additional grants:

Appalachian Regional Commission Grant $250,000

Upon completion, Armory Square will be an important contributing facility that will help grow our visitor economy and serve a broad cross-section of the community as a hub of activity and a commemoration to honor the brave men and women from Washington County who have served in our military. 

For more information contact Mayor Michael Mullen at 740-373-1387.