Following World War II, professional wrestling made a national comeback at the Armory with several promoters vying to find their niche in the Tampa Bay area.

Curling his upper lip, Elvis Presley performed at the Armory. Billed as “Country Music’s Mr. Rhythm,” he appeared as the final act in country star Hank Snow’s All-Star Jamboree tour in 1955.

In a speech delivered inside the Armory to an audience of nearly 2,500 people, President John F. Kennedy spoke of pertinent issues the American public faced in 1963. Following his talk, Kennedy went by motorcade to MacDill Air Force Base. He soon traveled to Dallas, Texas, where he was assassinated just four days later.

The Armory served as a prime concert venue for many decades, hosting The Doors in 1972.

Indeed, the Armory is a large Tampa landmark rich with history as a hub for political, entertainment and social events.

The Armory Partners Group is sensitive to historic preservation. In the interest of preserving the Armory’s history and extending its entertainment value, all efforts are being made to comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines in the rehabilitation of Fort Homer Hesterly Armory.