The devastation caused by the Great Depression is well documented. Almost equally well documented is the New Deal that helped pull the country from that dark time. In Oklahoma, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was formed to help Oklahoma families through work projects. Among the work projects bolstered by the WPA was the creation of armories for the Oklahoma National Guard. In all, 51 armories were created during the 1930s — the most of any state.
Now, these aging facilities are being replaced to meet modern needs. The creation of seven larger Armed Forces Reserve Centers (AFRC) allows for fewer structures throughout the state while meeting the demanding needs of the National Guard and Army Reserves who provide military readiness, community disaster relief and civic function.