The Oregon Army National Guard celebrated the completion of renovations to the Ashland Armory with a formal ribbon-cutting and rededication ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 25.
Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, Adjutant General of Oregon, presided over the ceremony, which included elected officials, City of Ashland representatives, Oregon National Guard leaders, soldiers and community members.
The ceremony marked the latest chapter in a long relationship between Ashland and the Oregon National Guard — one that dates back more than a century.
In a special election in 1911, Ashland residents voted 427-73 to tax themselves to help pay for construction of the community’s original armory. That building was designed by William C. Knighton, Oregon’s first State Architect.
“Long before the state and federal government stepped in, this community decided that the Oregon National Guard belonged here in Ashland,” Gronewold said during Tuesday’s ceremony. “We honor the same spirit of local support from 1911, ensuring that the National Guard will have a home here in Ashland for at least another 25 years.”
The current Ashland Armory, located at 1420 E. Main Street, was built in 1988. The 22,620-square-foot facility serves full-time personnel and traditional National Guard soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment.
Recent improvements were designed to modernize the facility while extending its useful life and supporting continued military training and mission readiness.
Renovations included new interior and exterior paint, exterior wood accents, improvements to the main entry foyer, new carpeting, polished floors, and stainless-steel kitchen counters. Crews also replaced deteriorating pavement and curbing in the armory parking lot.
The project was approved and funded in 2023 through the Armory Service Life Extension Program and Regional Emergency Enhancement Program.
“Long after today’s ribbon is cut, this armory will continue to do what it has done since the people of Ashland first voted to build here,” Gronewold said. “Standing watch, ensuring continued readiness and remaining part of the community.”
A Long Military History
The 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment traces its Southern Oregon roots to the Ashland Mountain Rangers and Southern Oregon Volunteers of the 1860s.
Officially constituted in 1921, the regiment later earned battle honors for its service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, including campaigns in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
In more recent decades, members of the battalion have supported military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
The unit has also responded to emergencies and missions within the United States, including disaster relief following Hurricane Katrina and security support at the U.S. Capitol during the 59th Presidential Inauguration.
Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, said the significance of the Ashland Armory extends beyond the building itself.
“Countless young men and women walk through these doors, taking their first steps as soldiers, and within these walls, thousands of experienced leaders have helped prepare the next generation to carry our mission forward,” Rapp said.
“As we celebrate this occasion today, let us remember that while buildings may be renovated, it is the people who leave legacies.”
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