Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Silver Spring Armory

Silver Srping Armory Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

1. Silver Srping Armory Marker

Inscription.
The Silver Spring Armory, completed in 1927, was significant for its association with the Maryland National Guard 29th Division's service during World Wars I and II. It was one of the major civic buildings constructed in Silver Spring during the early years that the community blossomed into an important suburban center.

Architecturally, the building was representative of early 20th century Armory design featuring distinctive medieval detailing with a two-story castellated "head house" and a one-story barrel vaulted perpendicular "drill hall." The arched entry to the "head house" was surmounted by a cast concrete panel which read "MARYLAND NATIONAL GVARD". The Armory was razed in 1998.

Erected 2004 by Montgomery County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Military • War, World I • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1927.

Location. 38° 59.687′ N, 77° 1.551′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown Silver Spring. Marker can be reached from Wayne Avenue. Marker is along the Silver Spring Green Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 925 Wayne Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20910, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of

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this marker. Springing Up (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Community Grows (about 300 feet away); Expressions of Community (about 400 feet away); The Global Refugee Mural (about 400 feet away); Silver Spring Shopping Center (about 400 feet away); A New Deal in Town (about 500 feet away); You Are Here - 1931 (about 500 feet away); The Silver Theatre (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Silver Spring.

Silver Spring Armory Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

2. Silver Spring Armory Marker

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

3. Silver Srping Armory Marker

Silver Spring Armory Marker<br>"Then as Now" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

4. Silver Spring Armory Marker
"Then as Now"

The monument to the Silver Spring Armory site was created by an artist whose heritage includes both African American and Native-American (Cherokee) ancestry. Jerome Meadow's diverse background lead him to express a community's spirit through his collage and abstract work. As a former resident of DC and graduate student at the University of Maryland, Meadows is familiar with Silver Spring's cultural mix. Meadows says "Art, the way I interpret it, lies within the realm (of the spirit) and when used effectively can have a healing impact, a revealing impact, an empowering impact." - Silver Spring Downtown Arts and Entertainment

"Then as Now" image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

5. "Then as Now"

Commemorating the spirit of the
Silver Spring National Guard Armoy

Custom ceramic tiles and freestanding
Sculpture using architectural elements from
The original armory building
Jerome B. Meadows
Meadowlark Studio
2004
Commissioned by Montgomery County

Maryland Flag Quarter<br>Baltimore Colors image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

6. Maryland Flag Quarter
Baltimore Colors

"The ultimate sacrilege committed against the Silver Spring Armory was the severing of the concrete bas-relief Maryland State flag into four quadrants. Two of the quarter sections were placed back to back, on this pylon, and erected at one of the parking garage's entrances. The other two quarter sections were similarly placed at the opposite end of the garage. This disrespect would have never been shown if this had been the United States flag. The same etiquette applies to state flags but our Montgomery County Government was/is ignorant of this fact." -- Jerry McCoy, Silver Spring Then and Again, August 20, 2010

Maryland Flag Quarter<br>Cross Bottony image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

7. Maryland Flag Quarter
Cross Bottony

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

8. Cornerstone

Armory
M.N.G.
1927

Maryland National Gvard image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

9. Maryland National Gvard

Silver Spring Armory image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

10. Silver Spring Armory

Close-up of photo on marker

Wayne Avenue Garage image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 4, 2014

11. Wayne Avenue Garage

The National Guard Armory was torn down in 1998 to make way for this parking garage.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 900 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on July 12, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.