The State of Maine Armory was built in 1895 for $20,000 for Maine’s National Guard. Local leaders were worried about a growing conflict in Cuba and wanted to make sure the militia was well-trained. The Maine National Guard left the building in 1941.
In 1942, the U.S. Navy took over the armory and used it as a recreation center during World War II. After the war, the building served many purposes, including housing the National Guard’s citizen soldiers, acting as a civic auditorium, and serving as the city’s public bath house. In 1962, the building was almost demolished when it was abandoned as surplus property and taken over by the city of Portland. Many people, including the Chamber of Commerce and the City Manager, wanted to tear it down and use the site for waterfront parking.
The Armory was eventually sold for $28,000 to State Paper Company in 1963. The building, which had served both Maine and the country for over sixty years, was used as a warehouse until 1984 when it was bought to be turned into a hotel. The Portland Regency Hotel opened with 95 rooms in 1987.