Springfield Armory National Historic Site

06/19/2026

All aboard!

Beginning June 20 and continuing every Saturday through October 31, volunteers from Springfield Armory NHS and Trails&Rails, a partnership between Amtrak and the National Park Service will be onboard presenting engaging educational programs about local history and a variety of topics along the way.

You can interact with our volunteers from Springfield, MA to Stamford, CT on the Northeast Regional #147 and on our return trip from Stamford, CT to Springfield, MA on the Vermonter #54.

Come ride the rails with us and discover local history along the way!

06/12/2026

Meet Springfield Armory’s new Fish & Feathers intern, Dhara Rosario Garcia! We’re excited to welcome Dhara into our NPS team and to continue our partnership with Environment for the Americas for the second year in a row.

Dhara recently graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in Biology. She brings her love for wildlife conservation into work every day. Dhara will focus on engaging in outreach programs for her own community of Springfield and explore the natural areas of Western Massachusetts with a new perspective.

Fish & Feathers host sites include a wide range of excellent fishing and birding spots, such as Everglades National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Smokey Mountains and more.

Please join us in giving Dhara a warm welcome! Make sure to check out her blog page below to follow her summer adventures.

https://environmentamericas.org/author/d-rosario-garcia/

NPS Photos
Alt Text: 1) Park ranger holding up a tub of pond water to show a frog to a group of students. 2) Park ranger stands tall under a black tent and behind a display table full of brochures, maps and activities.

&Feathers

06/08/2026

Throughout the existence of the Springfield Armory, the green space surrounding the Main Arsenal building has allowed the workers and community to relax and escape the busy urban center of Springfield. Today, while the grounds don’t look exactly the same, they still provide visitors with a place to reconnect with nature and find a sense of community. On your next visit, find a picnic table, bench, or tree to sit beneath and ponder. How does this picture compare to your visit to the Springfield Armory today?

NPS, Springfield Armory NHS, SPAR 15225, Neg. # 6564-sa
Alt Text: A black and white woodcut illustration of a large building with townspeople walking along sidewalks and traveling the area by horse drawn carriages.

05/30/2026

Bark in the Park
Calling all Bark Rangers! Raise the “woof” and join us for our annual “Bark in the Park" celebration on our historic grounds on June 20 from 10am to 1pm. Picnic with your pup, complete a Bark Ranger activity booklet, get a treat at the pup cup station, make a bandana and more!

05/29/2026

War Gardens were a prominent part of many Americans home during WWI. In WWII they came to be known as Victory Gardens. American civilians were encouraged to grow their own vegetables at home to help ward off the threat of potential food shortages. By 1944, over 40% of the nation’s fresh vegetables were produced in Victory Gardens.

This past Saturday, we held our season opening for our very own Victory Garden, which we re-established in 2025. Activities included planting seeds in the garden, watercolor painting, pinecone bird feeders, and the opportunity to become a Springfield Armory Junior Gardener!
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05/25/2026

Memorial Day is a time to remember and honor those who lost their lives while serving in the US military.

For nearly two centuries, the U.S. Armed Forces and American industry looked to Springfield Armory for innovative engineering and superior fi****ms.

The fi****ms designed and manufactured here profoundly affected the lives of soldiers and civilians alike through its 174 years of operation.

The National Park Service has the honor of preserving battlefields, military parks, and historic sites across the country that honor the sacrifices of U.S. military members.

NPS Photo/Dani Beekman
Alt Text: The American Flag hangs in the foreground with people in the background.

05/02/2026

On May 23 from 10am to 3 pm it is Victory Garden Season

Join us as we get the garden ready for the season and "Dig For Victory ". Help us plant the garden, complete a Junior Victory Gardener activity booklet, learn about rationing during World War II and more.

04/22/2026

04/09/2026

The Main Arsenal Building of the Springfield Armory, constructed between 1847-1850, was designed in the Renaissance Revival style. It was the crown jewel of Superintendent James W. Ripley’s vision of Armory Square. Standing at the end of the green, it could be seen from all over Springfield.
The first two photographs show the armory in 1875 and 2026. The third photo, taken in 1870, shows what the entrance looked like before the addition of the loading dock in 1941. The last photo shows the interior during the Second World War and was taken on September 25, 1944.

04/08/2026

“Fire!” What better way to learn about the fi****ms produced at the Springfield Armory than to see them live in action! During our historic weapons demonstrations, Springfield Armory park rangers will show you the process of loading and firing our fi****ms while providing additional historical context about their development and use. This weekend’s blank firings will occur at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 11.