Springfield Armory National Historic Site

For nearly two centuries, the U.S. Armed Forces and American industry looked to Springfield Armory for innovative engineering and superior firearms. Springfield Armory National Historic Site commemorates the critical role of the nation’s first armory by preserving and interpreting the world's largest historic US military small arms collection, along with historic archives, buildings and landscape.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

The Main Arsenal at Springfield Armory National Historic Site was first built in 1850 and today houses the park's amazing collection of historic firearms.

The Main Arsenal

Blank Firing Demostration

Park Volunteers give a blank firing demonstration of historic firearms.

Three Park Volunteers, holding historic firearms, on the grounds of the Armory against a cloudy sky.

Springfield Armory Clock Tower

Following the closure of the Springfield Armory in 1968, public action would drive Congress to create Springfield Armory National Historic Site in the late 1970s.

The tower of the Armory with the flag at full mast blowing in the wind on a cloudy day.

Organ of Muskets

Named after a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the Organ of Muskets consists of 647 Model 1861 Rifle Muskets. This structure would have held 1100 muskets when fully stocked and would have been one of many that filled the Arsenal during the Civil War.

A double musket rack holding 645 Springfield US Model 1861 rifle muskets.

Springfield Main Arsenal on a Fall Day

Springfield Armory began the production of small arms in 1794 and continued until its close in 1968. In 1978, the Armory reopened under the direction of the National Park Service as a National Historic Site.

The Springfield Armory Main Arsenal on a fall day, with blue skies and the flag at half staff.