Heslar Naval Armory
A streamlined Art Moderne landmark on the White River, built as a WPA project and now reimagined as an urban high school.
At a glance
Completed in 1936, Heslar Naval Armory stands on the banks of Indianapolis’s White River as a testament to Depression-era public works and military architecture. Originally designed to house Naval and Marine Corps operations, the building has been transformed into Riverside High School while retaining its distinctive maritime character and streamlined aesthetic.
History
The armory was constructed in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project, part of the New Deal’s commitment to employment and infrastructure. For decades it served as headquarters for Naval Operations Support Center Indianapolis, Marine Corps Reserve Center Indianapolis, and Naval Recruiting Station Indianapolis. The facility also housed the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps Cruiser Indianapolis (CA-35) Division and the Central Indiana Young Marines of the Marine Corps League. In October 2008, the Indiana Wing Civil Air Patrol relocated its state headquarters to the building. The federal government leased the facility until early 2015, when the State of Indiana transferred it to educational use.
What you see
Architect Ben H. Bacon designed the armory in the Art Moderne style, a sleek geometric vocabulary that reflected modernist ideals while serving utilitarian military purposes. The building’s riverside setting enhances its streamlined form and distinctive visual presence.
Cultural significance
Heslar Naval Armory represents an important chapter in American public architecture and civic identity. Its adaptive reuse as Riverside High School demonstrates how heritage buildings can serve new generations. The school embraced the structure’s naval history, adopting the Argonauts mascot and integrating the building’s maritime theme into its institutional branding.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Built: 1936
- Architect: Ben H. Bacon
- Architectural style: Art Moderne
- Original program: Naval and Marine Corps reserve operations
- Current use: Riverside High School (opened June 2018)
- Renovation cost: $10 million
- Coordinates: 39.80972222, -86.19305556
Practical information & getting there
Heslar Naval Armory is now home to Riverside High School and located on the White River in Indianapolis. The building is owned by the State of Indiana and managed by the Indiana State Armory Board. Contact the school directly for information about visiting or touring the historic facility.
Sources & resources
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