Springfield Armory National Historic Site

Attractions - From 1794 to 1968 Springfield Armory was a center for the manufacture of U.S. military small arms and the scene of many important technological advances. A large weapons museum is now housed in the original Main Arsenal Building.

Recreation - Grab your dancing shoes and picnic baskets and come to our annual Big Band Show every July. Imagine yourself at the historic Benny Goodman Orchestra performance in 1943 at the Springfield Armory! Goodman saluted the Armory workers for their manufacturing accomplishments during World War Two. For images of the September 29th, 1943 concert, see the 1943 Benny Goodman concert here!

Started as a technical reference collection for Armory workers in 1862, the museum highlights many of the best examples of US military shoulder arms plus pistols, machine guns, edged weapons, and production machinery.

Look at a rare 14th century hand gun, a modern Vulcan 20 mm Gatling Gun, or see the revolutionary 1822 Blanchard stockmaking lathe.

Climate - Massachusetts experiences four distinct seasons with slightly varying temperatures in the inland and coastal regions. Along the coast the water is a moderating factor that often prevents large amounts of snowfall from accumulating through the winter. Summer temperatures are usually cooler than low lying inland areas, due to ocean breezes. This region of the country experiences high humidity in the summer season and temperatures that average close to 80 degrees F. Fall and Spring are pleasant times to visit the region with crisp air and low humidity. Brilliant foliage colors can be found in the central and western regions of the state in late September and October. Winter temperatures can be brutally cold on occasion with a humidity-filled wind, but on average winter daytime temperatures reach 35 degrees F and lows reach into the teens. Spring is usually the wettest time of year, but trees, bushes and flowers are blooming by early May.

Location - Springfield Armory NHS is located at the site of the original Springfield Armory, in the city of Springfield, in southwestern Massachusetts. It can be seen on the ridge overlooking the east side of the Connecticut River and near two major interstate highways, Rt. 91 (N&S) and Rt. 90 (E&W) known as the Massachusetts Turnpike.