69th Regiment Armory

Notable events

• In 1913, the Armory Show exhibited art from many contemporary artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and more. It was the first large-scale modern art show in the United States. It received mixed reactions from the public and media for its controversial new art forms, such as cubism, fauvism, and post-impressionism. It was a success and eventually moved on to Chicago and Boston.
• Thure Johansson of Sweden broke Dorando Pietri's indoor record for the marathon at the 69th Regiment Armory on March 1, 1910. As of May 2010, the Association of Road Racing Statisticians notes that Johansson's mark still stands as the sixth fastest time on an indoor track.
• Starting November 29, 1948 through early 1949, the Armory hosted at least 17 Roller Derby matches, including the first matches ever broadcast on television.
• The Armory was the site of some New York Knicks home games from 1946 to 1960,including all their home games during the 1951, 1952 and 1953 NBA Finals, due to other events being booked at the time at their normal home, Madison Square Garden. The New York Americans - now the Brooklyn Nets - of the new American Basketball Association wanted to play at the Armory in 1967, but pressure from the Knicks on the Armory management forced the new club to play in Teaneck, New Jersey, instead.
• In 1994, the rock group Soundgarden performed two shows at the Armory, as part of the tour in support of their Superunknown album.
• In 1996, NBA Entertainment used the Armory to film Denzel Washington's portions of the documentary NBA at 50.
• After the September 11, 2001, attacks, the Armory served as a counseling center for the victims and families.
• In 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015 the Armory was the venue used for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
• The Armory has been the site of the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art's MoCCA Art Festival since 2009.
• The Architectural League of New York staged its annual "Beaux Arts Ball" at the Armory in 2013, to mark the centennial of the 1913 "Armory Show". For the event the ALNY commissioned giant illuminated cubist puppets designed by Processional Art Workshop
• In May 2014, The Armory hosted the inaugural edition of the Downtown Fair in which work from leading art galleries was offered for sale.