Squadron A Armory

Date: Saturday August 14, 2010
Distance: 10.0 miles
Time: 1:28:14
Temperature: 77

Total Distance: 183.7 miles
Total Time: 26:45:19

Medieval architecture is in no way synonymous with New York City. Despite this fact, there are a few medieval type structures located throughout the city. Everyone knows about the Cloisters, probably the most famous, located up in Inwood overlooking the Hudson River. To my surprise there is also an amazing castle, or at least a castle facade, on Madison Avenue between 94th and 95th Streets. Approaching the structure from the west it was like running through a time warp. One minute the street is lined with large residential buildings, the next I’m standing in front of a castle. Upon closer inspection I found out that the building only consists of a castle facade with a park located behind the giant archway. Turns out this is the Squadron A Armory, and up until 1965 consisted of a massive structure occupying the entire block between 94th/95th and Madison/Park. In 1965 the majority of the building came down leaving only the facade on Madison. Despite losing a significant portion of the original armory, the current towers and archways lining Madison Avenue still provides amazing contrast to their Upper East Side neighborhood.

View 8/14/2010 87th-94th East (10.2) in a larger map

View 8/14/2010 87th-94th East (10.2) in a larger map