National Historic Landmark

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000898

About this property

The Springfield Armory, more formally known as the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield located in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, was the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until its closing in 1968. It was the first federal armory and one of the first factories in the United States dedicated to the manufacture of weapons. The site is preserved as the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Western Massachusetts' only unit of the national park system. It features the world's largest collection of historic American firearms. Famous first as the United States' primary arsenal during the American Revolutionary War, and then as the scene of a confrontation during Shays' Rebellion, the Springfield Armory in the 19th and 20th centuries became the site of numerous technological innovations of global importance, including interchangeable parts, the assembly line style of mass production, and modern business practices, such as hourly wages. The facility would play a decisive role in the American Civil War, producing most of the weaponry used by Union troops which, in sum, outpaced Confederate firearm production by a ratio of 32 to 1. American historian Merritt Roe Smith has posited that advancements in machine manufacturing which allowed the facility to increase production capacity by more than 25 fold, from 9,601 rifles in 1860 to 276,200 in 1864, served as a precursor to the mass production of the Second Industrial Revolution and 20th century assembly line production. The numerous firearm models produced at the Springfield Armory from 1794 to 1968 are referred to as "Springfield muskets and rifles".

Location

Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts
42.10814, -72.58079

Categories

MILITARYPOLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Notable People
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Finds & Access
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Nearby Historic Sites

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0.2 mi
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Quadrangle-Mattoon Street Historic District
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Quadrangle-Mattoon Historic District (Boundary Increase)
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0.3 mi
Upper Worthington Historic District
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Nearby Battles

Attack on Springfield
1675Colonial
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Springfield Armory National Historic Site listed on the National Register?

Springfield Armory National Historic Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Springfield Armory National Historic Site?

Springfield Armory National Historic Site is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Springfield Armory National Historic Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Springfield Armory National Historic Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Springfield Armory National Historic Site?

The period of significance for Springfield Armory National Historic Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Springfield Armory National Historic Site?

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