Plaque signals Naval Armory’s historic status
Campus leaders and Carolina’s ROTC celebrated the unveiling of the National Register of Historic Places marker on Nov. 15.
When it first opened in 1943, the Naval Armory served as a hub for cadets on campus, merging military training and academics. More than 80 years later, the building is still home base to more than 130 ROTC students at Carolina. It also now boasts a new plaque signifying its status on the National Register of Historic Places.
Earlier this year, the Naval Armory was added to the National Register, an official list of historic places in the U.S. deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance at the local or national level. The Naval Armory Preservation Committee, comprised of Navy ROTC Alumni Association members, championed the four-year effort to ensure the Naval Armory will not only continue to stand as piece of Carolina history, but also serve future cadets for generations to come.
On Nov. 15, committee member Sandy Henkel ’85 and historical consultant Eric Plaag unveiled the plaque at an event attended by Navy, Army and Air Force ROTC members, campus leaders and ROTC alumni.
“We are privileged at Carolina to have a number of historic and beautiful buildings, but we don’t have a more important building on campus than this one here,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “Generations of cadets and midshipmen have come through here and gone on to serve our country in the cause of peace and freedom around the world. And today, it’s an active, working building where our terrific ROTC students are learning and applying lessons that will serve them well throughout their careers, both in the military and beyond.”
Descendants and friends of the original B-1 US Navy Band members pose next to the historic marker. The band members were the first African American servicemen to serve at a higher rank than messmen in the modern Navy. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)
Jim White, Craver Family Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, echoed the chancellor’s sentiments and thanked the Naval Armory Preservation Committee for their multiple years of work to preserve the building.
“This group of Naval ROTC Alumni Association members was instrumental in securing this historic designation for our campus building,” he said. “The armory is full of history, which is why we are here today. That history and knowledge that honors those who served our country, who trained and learned in this very building, is part of what makes the Naval Armory and Carolina so special.
“As dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, I proudly oversee Carolina’s three outstanding ROTC programs,” he added. “These are students who have chosen a path in service to our country, and they are among the best of the best. They are proud to be Tar Heels, and they are proud to call the Naval Armory their home.”
Nestled at the intersection of South Columbia Street and South Road, the building, designed by architect Archie Royal Davis ’33, was erected in response to the increasing demands of World War II. During the war, the Naval Armory hosted physical fitness training, survival courses and academic instruction taught by University professors and Navy personnel. The structure also played a significant role in the history of civil rights and diversity in the military: It’s where the first African Americans were integrated into the U.S. Navy with formal enlisted ratings.
Navy, Army and Air Force ROTC members, campus leaders and ROTC alumni attended the ceremony. The Naval Armory Preservation Committee, comprised of alumni, championed the four-year effort to earn the distinction. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)
