The cornerstone of Gray�s Armory was laid in 1893, establishing a headquarters for the city�s longtime local volunteer militia, the Cleveland Grays. The Grays had served the city since the 1837, their purpose to protect and serve, and were a central piece of the city�s history until the First World War. The Armory soon became an important civic location, hosting the first performance of the Cleveland Orchestra in 1917, Presidential visits and many civic events and celebrations.
