The City of Adrian was founded in 1826 and has served as the seat of government for Lenawee County since 1838. Its rich history is reflected in the Downtown Adrian Commercial Historic District and the Dennis-State Streets Historic Residential District, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Armory stands at the downtown district’s west end.

The citizens of Adrian have a long history of military service. Locals participated in the Blackhawk and Toledo wars in the settlement’s early years. Adrian’s first organized unit was a division of the Kalamazoo Militia which fought in the Civil War. At the turn-of-the-century, Adrian’s soldiers were organized as part of the Michigan National Guard and served in the Spanish American War and both World Wars.

After distinguished service in World War I, the Adrian National Guard proposed that a new Armory be built. The State of Michigan agreed to contribute $50,000 if the city raised $45,000. State Architect Lynn W. Fry soon was authorized to prepare plans. Construction of the concrete-and-steel building began in 1924 and was completed the following year. Finished in tan brick and limestone, the building includes a two-story office wing with half-timbering on its front facade. Perpendicular to this wing stretches the barrel-roofed drill hall featuring a stage and adjacent, cathedral-ceilinged officers’ lounge. Tudor in styling, the Armory has an imposing arched entrance framed by turrets and battlement.

Never having gone through a period of vacancy and decline, the Armory was restored through the efforts of local residents Mary and Mark Murray and the partnership they formed between Adrian Armory, LLC, and Visit Lenawee Inc. The wing now provides incubator spaces for start-ups, a maker’s space kitchen occupies the basement’s original mess, and the drill hall and meeting rooms make the Armory a sought-after event center for all of Lenawee County.