My first review somehow went under a different reviewer with same name. Trying again, a great NHS that covers the beginning of the weapons industry in Anerica. The displays cover eras and the conflicts during those times through the history of the weapons that were manufactured to be used by those involved. The displays are nicely done, informative and eye catching, especially the damaged weapons case (one was struck by lightning). The Rangers were helpful and willing to share thier knowledge of not just the Armory, but of the local events (fireworks) and the Dr. Seuss museum downtown. We are very appreciative. read more

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The Springfield Armory produced weapons for the country going all the way back to the personal order of George Washington, when it was intended to be the northern supplier while its sister site Harpers Ferry was to serve the south, until 1968. During this time of service, the armory was not only a production site, but also the home to significant research and development, including the production of rear (breech) loading style weapons and the cutting edge at the time M1 by John Garand. We were fortunate to arrive in time for a walking tour with Ranger Chris. The site now shares space with a local community college, given the number of buildings the armory once included, so a lot of this is an exterior tour since they are now home to many classrooms. There are a lot of fascinating touches that Ranger Chris pointed out, including lampposts that looked like cannons and the black walnut trees around the campus (black walnut was originally used to make weapons). There is a small parking area for the visitor center - we just checked in at the gate and they directed us where to go. The center is good sized and includes a theatre to watch the site film, a whole lot of weaponry artifacts, and a gift shop. read more

Such a deep dive into the history of the making & development of the weapons that shaped the world of today by preserving the first Armory in America. Well done & maintained displays of different weapons from an early era. A great stop for weapon & history enthusiasts. The Ranger at information desk provided not just info about the Armory, but Springfield in general. We did not know about Dr. Seuss museum if not for him. read more

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Wonderful National historic site conveniently located adjacent to Springfield Technical Community College. Free admission and onsite parking. Exhibits of armory and knowledgeable rangers available to discuss and answer any questions. read more

Springfield Armory National Historic Site - MA 250 - Museums Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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The Springfield Armory historical museum is a testament to the facility that was primarily responsible for producing firearms for the US military beginning right after the Revolutionary War (1794) to the Vietnam War (1968). That's over 170 years and this museum chronicles that history. The Armory facility consisted of many buildings where all of the work and manufacturing was done. Today the land and many of the old buildings form the Springfield Technical Community College campus. So to get the museum you have to drive into the campus and head to the easy to find Armory building with the American flag on top. There is plenty of parking in front. Inside it is a museum that is all located on the ground floor that is run by the National Park Service so there are Rangers there to answer any question. Carl greeted me and was very nice and helpful. The museum shows everything from the beginning to the end of its existence. I found it very interesting to see manufacturing methods used in the 1800's where water power from nearby rivers was used to operate machinery to the transition to steam power and finally electricity. The ingenuity of craftsman back then is amazing in how they made things. Included in the museum is an informative 17 minute video about what took place at the Armory during all of these years. The output of this facility made the American soldier the best equipped in the world and provided for so many victories. Even if you aren't a gun nut, I believe you will enjoy coming here. The history of our nation is on display here and the best part of visiting is that the parking and admission are FREE. Budget about 1 hour to see it and yes they have a gift shop. read more

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This is your mecca if you are interested in gun history and also a great place for military enthusiasts. A really nice gun collection featuring a lot of guns used in all the various American conflicts leading up to the present day. This documents the history of the various buildings as a hub for the manufacturing of military weapons starting with after the revolution all the way up until the 1960s when the military contracted out all weapons manufacturing. this plant is now a community college so when you come here you're actually setting foot onto campus. then you go to the one building that's open and that's the visitor center. It's only open certain days a week so do keep that in mind and frequently check the website. read more

This is a surprisingly cool NPS site. Interpretative content feels hokey but is very informative. Very interesting collection of firearms. I learned a ton about a topic I knew little about. I would check this place out. read more

I've been to a ton of national historic sites. (I collect the stamps and enjoy peaks into different region's histories.) The armory has hands-down one of the best educational movies I've seen. Like seriously, top notch production value combining historical footage with that of reenactors. Now, it's an armory so it's mostly chockfull of guns. I highly recommend for people into it. For those less interested, it was still cool to peruse but at a much faster pace. read more

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Great place to take my kids, we have been many times. This past weekend, I took my four year old. The Rangers on-site could not have been better in their interactions with him. The took the time to explain the Junior Ranger program with him and when he was completed, they made a great deal out of swearing him in as a Junior Ranger. He was so happy and proud of himself. There is an informative 18 minute video that he sat all the way through, as well as so many exhibits and neat things to see. The gift shop was large and well stocked. We didnt forget out NationalPark stamps either. Was a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

This morning at man o'clock we headed up to the Springfield Armory. What would we find there? Well, certainly all manner of firearms to scratch the testosterone itch, but also a dose of engineering and technology for the more cerebral parts of our psyche. It is a National Historic Site, run in a competent, confident and low-key way by the US Park Service, and boy does it deserve its status. The museum houses "the world's largest historic US military small arms collection," and presents them in straightforward, discrete displays of several firearms at a time so you don't drown in data. Moving from one display to the next, through time and also through technological innovations, you cannot help but realize and begin to understand the changes of society that are marked by each new form of firearm. There are some sword (and bayonet) displays to help remind us that weaponry has long used steel, and only relatively recently employed gunpowder as well. Flintlocks, percussion guns, breach loaders and eventually self-loading firearms are presented in digestible detail, with enough in-the-weeds commentary for the super dweebs (ahem) to go deep. The guns are by and large in really good condition, and there are enough technical drawings accompanying them to help show what the advances in metallurgy of any given point in time permitted the engineers to cook up. Speaking of engineers, Messrs Garand and Blanchard are both given appropriate respect and attention in the displays. That's what you find when you turn left upon entering. If you hook another quick left, you go into a little room where they show an 18 minute movie that is fascinating. And this movie sets you up to understand the machines which created the many different parts required through the centuries to manufacture the Armory's iconic guns. (An actor playing Thomas Blanchard appears, delighting the ears with an accent reminiscent of Phil Hartman doing the Anal Retentive Chef, God rest his soul.) If I can lazily quote once again from their website, "For 174 years, the men and women of Springfield Armory shaped America's destiny through pioneering technological innovation, improved manufacturing processes, and increased use of laborsaving machines." And that is largely what you see when you turn right after entering. The other side of the museum is just as amazing as all the gun displays, Albeit not quite as extensive. You can see the genius stock-copying machine, in both full-size and a perfect miniature version. The power system which first came from the Mill River, and later used steam engines made in Troy New York, is also on display on this side, and I have to say that is among the most fascinating things for me having seen the same thing at the Watervliet Arsenal just across the river from Troy. And finally, there are all those stacked up family photos of workers, including women, showing how the human element was critical for this supremely important manufactory. Comments about the production capability of the industrial North versus the agrarian South help put the American Civil War into context. And lastly, the Organ of Muskets is an amazing sight to see. As with the best such sites, you enter thinking one thing ("we are going to look at a bunch of super cool guns!") and come out thinking about a bunch of other topics: social, political, technological. It's the sort of place which rewards repeat visits, and because your tax dollars support it, you can do so for free. read more

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A great place to go for the history behind Springfield Arms and how they've been used in history. Informative and fun with the option to go at it alone or by guided tour. Highly recommend. read more

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We had a great visit to the Armory . They had an amazing collection of ancient weapons that was fascinating to see and imagine warriors and soldiers utilizing the weaponry in combat! read more

It's a must stop for gun enthusiasts if you are in Springfield, Ma. It's free admission. Great historical museum. Gift shop reasonably priced. You get welcomed by the staff. There is a 15 minute film you can watch regarding the history of Springfield armory. It is very interesting to see the evolution of fire arms. Highly recommend. I saw families with children. I don't think it is interesting enough for kids. read more

Springfield Armory National Historic Site - Organ of Muskets! - Museums Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

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I was pleasantly surprised by this historical site. They had guns galore and everything was pretty well organized. It is separated by the industry (how it was made) versus actually gun examples. The building is handicapped accessible and is nicely air conditioned. Bathrooms are decently clean. The only thing confusing is that visitors will have to drive a bit into the enclosed campus to get to the historical site. (It is literally at the end of the road.) read more

The Armory is terrific for what it is. If you, or someone you're looking to entertain, is into all things ammunition, military, machine, or gun related, the Armory would be a wonderful place to visit. Locating the Armory proved to be a bit of a task. It's actually on the STCC campus. If I had a way to describe it's location, I'd say it's at the "back" of the campus. It's a small, modest historic site, and can easily be perused in an hour and a half. When we arrived (on Father's Day), there were a couple of people there, visiting. This isn't a high-traffic site. The ranger on staff was very friendly and helpful and gave us a brief overview of the Armory. There's the mechanical/manufacturing side, the gun/munitions display side, and a small viewing theater. Unfortunately, no one was manning the theater, and so my future father-in-law had to try and figure out how to start the educational video. It's a re-enactment of historical events, so it's a bit like something you'd watch in your 8th grade American History class. However, it was informational, so I'd suggest watching it, allow about 20 minutes. The mechanical/manufacturing side was interesting, detailing the Armory's use and history. They have a working models of how different pieces of the guns were manufactured (find the green button at the front of the model). I really enjoyed the small exhibit on the guns from Springfield Armory that have been used in Hollywood films. It would have been a lot more compelling had they had the actual props, but as it were, many of the films I love (Big Lebowski, for one) were listed, which I thought was pretty cool. The gun display exhibit features dozens and dozens of different models, types, eras, and so on. There's German guns, Japanese guns, Soviet guns, Allied guns. There was a section of the exhibit dedicated to swords, bayonets, and the like. It was interesting to look over, but I'm not a huge military/gun fanatic, so I couldn't really appreciate many of the differences. Several video kiosks with informational shorts are scattered about, for those who have a little extra time. Springfield Armory also has quite a nice gift shop, with lots of "Don't Tread on Me" paraphernalia, and some really unique books. All in all, it was nice to say we went and checked it out. Number one, it's free, can't beat that. It's quite informational, and would really be enjoyed best by someone who enjoys military/munitions history. read more

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This was probably my best visit to a historic site in the last couple months. Staff is very knowledgeable. They have great interacting movies and recordings. A large selection of fire arms is on display. And the grounds are lovely to walk around on. This is a must see when you come to Springfield read more

This was a pretty sweet experience. I went with a group of 5 and was able to eat tc's the video and roll right into a hands on display with one of the volunteer. After that another volunteer informed us that they would be firing one of the flintlocks they had an experiment for so we were able to see them fire some of the weapons. Definitely recommend coming to visit. read more

I recently found myself in Springfield, MA with a few hours to kill, so I figured I might as well see what sites there are to take in while I was there. I was delighted to find out that it was the home of the original U.S. Springfield Armory (not to be confused with the company of the same name currently in business today). Initially, it was a little harder to locate since the building is on the backside of what is now Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). You have to turn into the college, make a left at the traffic circle, and drive through the parking lot around to the back. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by a National Park Services Ranger by the name of Susan who was AWESOME! I love meeting people who are excited about and love what they do. She began by telling me all about the history of Springfield Armory, and then led me to the theater to watch a short 15 minute film that goes into all that, and then some in a lot of detail. The museum itself is incredible, and if you're a gun enthusiast, shooter, collector, or historian, you'll be in awe over all the gems they have cataloged and on display here. They have muzzle loaders pistols dated back to the 1700s, all the way through the modern era. They even have several pre/post war specimens from countries like Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia, and ... The collection is flat out astounding! Any gun owner would be more than delighted to bid on a number of the firearms on display should they ever decide to close this place (which would be a tragedy!). While I wouldn't take a 5/6 hour flight from California just to see the museum, if you're in the Springfield\Hartford area, it's definitely worth a visit, and you won't be disappointed. Especially if you're into American History. read more

This was... interesting, I suppose. I guess I didn't know what to expect so maybe this will serve as a heads-up to future visitors. The museum is a massive assortment of guns and other weapons. That's really it. Just stacks and stacks (and stacks) of guns. As someone with no military background or interest in hunting or the like, I was a bit overwhelmed. I spent as much time as I could there before it all just started blurring together and my eyes glazed over. Just, lots of guns. The price was definitely right though (free) and their orientation video was fantastic. I honestly had no idea about the history of the place so I was glad to learn about it. I think to be really blown away by the experience, though, you've just gotta love guns. read more

Springfield Armory National Historic Site - Museums Near Me - Springfield, Massachusetts

It is NOT closed! Went with a group on Monday and it was a good take. Lots of interesting history here. "Lighting" is terrible due to shadows created by ambient light entering windows glaring off the glass cases. Relatively small public exhibit when you consider the amount of history here (1794-1968). Park Service Ranger told me that less than 10% of what they have is on public display. Great take for those interested in history. Go to http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm for more info on the museum. read more

Great historic site! Small, but well worth the visit. Beautiful displays and very educational. They currently have a Machine Gun display starting with a Gatling Gun on a carriage and ending with a 20mm M39A2. With a Maxim, Gardner Gun, and serial number 1 model 1917 Browning as well as others in between. The M1 Garand's they have on hand are AMAZING!!! They have the prototypes and serial numbers 1, 81 (which was the first completely machine made M1). Serial numbers 100,000 and 1,000,000 as well as 2,000,000 and 3,000,000. They even have the very last M1 ever produced at the Springfield Armory, serial number 6,084,405. The Rangers that work there are helpful, friendly and polite. From Match Locks to Belt-Fed... It's all there. read more

Friendly Park Rangers that actually initiate contact with you first, free admission, good layout, cool history overview, ample parking (FYI this is part of a college campus). My four kids, wife and I all enjoyed it. read more

Great gun museum of classic war weapon. A shrine to John Cantius Garrand, the firearms genius of world War 2. A national parks service museum which is meticulously ordered and well documented. If you liked the movie "Full Metal Jacket", you'll love this spectacle. The Springfield Armory is a wonder of American ingenuity. Take a look! read more

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I am a long time fan (and employee) of our National Parks. I enjoy going to the lesser known, out of the way sites. These gems bring to light the breadth and depth of our nation's rich history. The Armory is one of these diamonds in the rough. The exhibits bring to life the extraordinary contributions to precision manufacturing and the development of American fire power and military might. Still, I just can't get into guns. With a brother that is a military historian, I learned to tune out technology and weaponry a long time ago. Still, their collection is significant. As a fairly new resident of Massachusetts, I left with a keen understanding of how Springfield fit into the massive 19th C industrialization of the Connecticut River Valley. read more

Pretty nice little museum, focused mainly on the armory's role in the history of the USA.

Great place to visit if your into firearms or military history.

Pumped I finally made it out here. Great museum with just an amazing collection of firearms. Great national historic site. Incredible to see the original m1. read more

A hidden gem in Springfield, MA, dating back to General George Washington's visit in the late 1700's. For a person who hates guns, I fell in love with this museum. And it's free! read more