Springfield Armory National Historic Site

Welcome to the audio-described version of Springfield Armory National Historic Site's official print brochure. Through text and audio descriptions of photos, illustrations, and maps, this version interprets the two-sided color brochure that Springfield Armory visitors receive. The brochure explores the history of the park, some of its highlights, and information for planning your visit. This audio version lasts about two hours which we have divided into eight sections, as a way to improve the listening experience. Sections 1 through 4 include "Springfield Armory, Then and Now", "Visit the Grounds", "Welcome to the Armory", and "Our Partners" cover the front of the brochure. Sections 5 through 8 include "The Evolution of Firearms", "1700s", "1800s", and "1900s" cover the back of the brochure.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. The 55 acre park is situated 89 miles west of Boston at the edge of the Connecticut River. This park, established in 1974, is the only national park site in Western Massachusetts. Each year, thousands of visitors come to enjoy the unique experiences that only can be had at Springfield Armory. We invite you to explore the country's largest collection of military small arms and learn more about our nation's history through ranger programs or self-guided activities. Explore our museum floor, take a walking tour of our waysides, or dig for victory in our Victory Garden. For those seeking to learn more about the park during their visit, or to find out more about what resources might be available or to contact the park directly, visit the "Accessibility" and "More Information" sections at the end of this audio-described brochure.

The front of the brochure includes both black-and white and color photographs, maps, logos, and text. Across the top of the page is a one-inch-tall, black bar. It has large, white text, reading, “Springfield Armory” on the left, and a small image of the National Park Service logo on the far right.

Below the black bar, the front page is divided into four horizontal sections, titled,  "Springfield Armory, Then and Now", "Visit the Grounds", "Welcome to the Armory",  and "Our Partners".

The top half of the front page is divided into two sections, which share a black background.

The topmost section, "Springfield Armory, Then and Now", highlights five historic Armory features. Two photos are displayed for each highlighted feature: one in color, and one in black-and-white. The colorful, contemporary photos are placed above the historic, black-and-white photos, creating one row of colorful images resting above one row of black-and white images. Together, these two rows make up one-quarter of the front page.

The section below, titled, "Visit the Grounds", shows four, full-color photos of the modern-day Armory. Special events, living history, exhibit tours, and the Armory's historic grounds are highlighted in this section. 

The lower half of the front page is divided into two sections, which share a white background. 

"Welcome to the Armory" sits below "Visit the Grounds". This section has informative text about Springfield Armory's location and history on the left side, while the right side displays two maps. The first map shows Springfield, Massachusetts and its surrounding cities, as well as its close proximity to the Connecticut River. The second map, to the right, gives a closer look at Springfield Armory and its nearby city streets, surrounding it.

The section below, titled, "Our Partners", highlights Springfield Technical Community College and the Springfield Museums. Each partner has two images and one paragraph of text to describe them.

The bottom of the page has a thin black bar, about half an inch tall.

DESCRIBING: A black bar across the width of the brochure.

SYNOPSIS: Across the top of the page is a black banner that includes the park's name in large white text: "Springfield Armory"; as well as the location and organizational information in smaller white text: "Springfield Armory / National Historic Site / Massachusetts", "National Park Service / U.S. Department of the Interior". To the right of the organizational information is the NPS arrowhead logo, in color. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This black banner is used to identify official publications of the National Park Service. The NPS arrowhead logo, located in the right corner of the banner, is positioned point-down. This brown arrowhead features green grass at its point, with a giant sequoia tree of the same green color rising from the grass and standing tall at the left side of the arrowhead. Grazing in the center of the green grass is a white American bison, the National Park Service mascot. Above the grass, also in white, are snow-capped mountains. Above the mountains, at the top right of the arrowhead, "National Park Service" is written in white text, the three words stacked on top of each other. 

On the left side of the banner, "Springfield Armory" is written in large white text. Directly behind the "r", "i", and "n" in Springfield, an American flag from the image below rises up, contrasting against the black banner behind it.

CAPTION: Springfield Armory

CREDIT: National Park Service

RELATED TEXT: Springfield Armory National Historic Site Massachusetts

National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior

Five highlighted, historic features of Springfield Armory are displayed at the top of the brochure, taking up one-quarter of the front page. Each highlighted feature has two images, one full-color and one black-and-white, and a description, describing the feature in modern day and in the past. The next sections describe these in depth.

DESCRIBING: A rectangular, vertical collage of two photographs.

SYNOPSIS: This collage consists of two rectangular, horizontal photos of the Springfield Armory, one placed above the other.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The upper image in the collage is a contemporary photo of the Armory building in full-color, while the lower image is a black-and-white photo of the Armory from around 1870. Both photos show the Armory with a monochromatic sky in the background. Overlayed on the gray sky of the black-and-white Armory photo, one sentence of text is placed above the building. In the upper right corner of the black-and-white photo, Springfield Armory's logo is overlayed, in black, contrasting against the light gray sky background.

CAPTION: The park visitor center and museum in the Armory building (the historic Main Arsenal) houses archives, industrial exhibits, and the world's largest collection of historic American military firearms.

CREDIT: Jim Langone.

DESCRIBING: A rectangular, vertical collage of two photographs.

SYNOPSIS: This collage consists of two rectangular, horizontal photos of the Garvey Hall, one placed above the other.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The upper image in the collage is a contemporary photo of  Garvey Hall in full-color, while the lower image is a black-and-white photo of Garvey Hall from 1931. Both photos show a glimpse of sky in the background. Overlayed on the gray sky of the black-and-white photo, one sentence of text is placed above the building. In the upper right corner of the black-and-white photo, Springfield Technical Community College's logo is overlayed, in black, contrasting against the light gray sky background.

CAPTION: Garvey Hall, Springfield Technical Community College's administration building, occupies the Armory's original administrative building. 

DESCRIBING: A rectangular, vertical collage of two photographs.

SYNOPSIS: This collage consists of two rectangular photos of the Organ of Muskets, one placed above the other.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The upper image in the collage is a contemporary photo of the Organ of Muskets in full-color, while the lower image is a black-and-white photo of from around 1950. Overlayed on the top of the black-and-white photo, one sentence of text is provides context for the photos. In the lower right corner of the black-and-white photo, "About 1950" is written in bold, black font.

CAPTION: The "Organ of Muskets," made famous by Henry W. Longfellow's 1843 poem. 

DESCRIBING: A rectangular, vertical collage of two photographs.

SYNOPSIS: This collage consists of two rectangular, horizontal photos of the Quarters 1, one placed above the other.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The upper image in the collage is a contemporary photo of Quarters 1 l in full-color, while the lower image is a black-and-white photo of Quarters 1 from 1932. Both photos show a glimpse of sky in the background. Overlayed on the gray sky of the black-and-white photo, one sentence of text is placed above the building. In the lower right corner of the black-and-white photo, "About 1932" is written in bold, black letters.

CAPTION: Quarters 1, built in 1847, was home to Armory commanding officers and their families through 1967. 

DESCRIBING: A rectangular, vertical collage of two photographs.

SYNOPSIS: This collage consists of two rectangular, horizontal photos of museum visitors, one placed above the other.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:The upper image in the collage is a contemporary photo of museum visitors in full-color, while the lower image is a black-and-white photo of museum visitors from 1948. Overlayed on the top of the black-and-white photo, one sentence of text is placed above an exhibit piece. In the lower right corner of the black-and-white photo, "1948" is written in bold, black font.

CAPTION: The museum highlights many of the best examples of U.S. military shoulder arms, pistols, edged weapons, and production machinery. 

RELATED TEXT: Special Events -- Springfield Armory hosts many special events each year, including cere monies honoring the nation's military, past and present, on Armed Forces Day in May. Check at the front desk for current events. 

School Groups -- Embracing the "Parks As Classrooms" idea, Springfield Armory has designed programs to provide upper elementary, middle, and high school students hands-on experience in learning the Armory's history. 

Exhibits Tour -- Rangers introduce visitors to exhibits like the "Organ of Muskets," the Blanchard Lathe, the unusual Lyle Life Saving Cannon, and the Wall of Machine Guns reflecting a century of development.

Visit the Grounds -- You may explore the historic buildings and grounds on your own or join a park ranger-guided outdoor interpretive tour that highlights little-known aspects of Springfield Armory's rich 174-year history. 

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS:  Seventeen reenactors, each dressed as an American soldier from a different era, pose together for a group photo. The reenactors stand in a grassy field, arranged in two rows; five kneel in front, while twelve stand behind them. Each reenactor holds a replica firearm from the era they represent, showcasing the evolution of the American soldier and their respective firearms throughout history. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Reenactors dressed in a variety of military uniforms from different historical periods are photographed from a distance. 12 men stand in the back row, 9 of whom are partly obscured by the 4 men and 1 woman kneeling in front of them. All visible details of the reenactors will be described, from the viewer's left to right, beginning with the back row.

On the far left, a fair, white-haired soldier is dressed in a cream-colored uniform from the American Revolution. A blue, three-quarter sleeve jacket and navy cap on his head add colorful details to his ensemble. He faces the camera and holds a Flintlock Musket in his right hand, its rear resting on the grass and its muzzle pointed sky-high. 

Beside him, a black soldier stands with a Rifle-Musket in his right hand, in the same position and pose. He is dressed in a navy-blue uniform from the Civil War, his jacket buttoned up and navy cap resting on his head. 

To the right, a white soldier is dressed in attire from the American Revolution. He is dressed as a militiaman, who did not wear uniforms, due to their civilian status. He dons a white shirt, navy blue coat, and dark, wide-brimmed hat. His Flintlock Musket is positioned upright, tucked into the crook of his right arm, which appears to be in a sling. 

Next, a white soldier, dressed in a navy-blue uniform from the Spanish-American War holds a dark, Trapdoor Rifle in his right hand. His dark blue coat is buttoned up, where it meets a bright red bandana tied around his neck. He has a thick mustache and wears a wide-brimmed navy-blue hat on his head, shielding his face from the sun. 

To the right of him is a white soldier dressed in an extravagant uniform from the War of 1812. He holds a Flintlock Musket in his right hand, which is nearly unnoticeable in comparison to his bold outfit. He wears white pants, a dark blue tunic with gold brocade across his chest, white pants and black boots. On his head he wears a dark, cylindrical shako helmet adorned with gold details and a tall, red feather extending from its peak.

Beside him is a white soldier with blonde hair and a matching mustache, holding a trapdoor rifle and dressed in a navy-blue uniform from the American Indian Wars. His jacket is buttoned up to his neck and a tan slouch cap rests on his head. 

To the right is a white soldier holding a flintlock rifle, dressed in a uniform from the War of 1812.  The uniform consists of a dark-blue tunic with leather straps in an "X" shape across the chest and a line of brass buttons running from waist to collar. A black felt, cylindrical shako helmet on his head completes the look. 

Next to him, standing slightly shorter than his contemporaries, is a white soldier, holding a trapdoor rifle and dressed in a uniform from the American Indian Wars, with a tan, wide-brimmed hat, white shirt and a red bandana around his neck.

To the right is a white soldier holding a flintlock rifle. He, too, is dressed in a uniform from the War of 1812, wearing a dark-blue tunic, with leather straps across his chest, one row of brass buttons and a black felt, cylindrical shako helmet on his head. 

To the right is a white soldier with a long, dark mustache, dressed in a uniform from the Spanish-American War. He dons a tan leather coat, tan pants, and a tan slouch hat on his head. A Springfield Krag-Jorgensen rifle is slung over his back, its muzzle peeking out just behind his head.

Next is a white soldier dressed in a uniform from American Revolution. He wears a blue and red tunic, a dark blue, tai-corn hat, and holds a flintlock rifle n his right hand.

The last soldier in the back row, on the far right, is dressed in a tan World War 2 uniform. His tan pants and buttoned-up, collard shirt match the tan garrison hat on his head. He holds an M-1 Garand rifle in both of his hands, which he points near his left soldier, its muzzle facing the top right corner of the photo.

Kneeling in the front row, from left right, is a white, male, soldier, dressed in a uniform from the American Revolution. He wears a blue and red tunic, a blue tricorn hat, and holds a flintlock rifle in his left hand. To the right kneels a white, male, soldier dressed in a World War 2 uniform, wearing an olive-green uniform and matching metal helmet, who holds an M-1 Garand rifle. Beside him is a white, male, Marine dressed in a tan, desert camouflage uniform from the Iraq War, with a tan soft cap on is head and an M-16 rifle with both hands. To the right kneels a white, female, Marine dressed in a desert camouflage uniform from the Iraq War. She also wears a tan soft cap and holds an M-16 rifle with both hands. Lastly, a white, male soldier dressed in a tan, desert camouflage uniform from the first Gulf War kneels on the far right. He wears a tan booney on his head and holds an M-14 sniper rifle with both hands. 

Behind the reenactors, in the photo's foreground, is dense foliage of several green trees, their branches and leaves blending together due to their close proximity. 

CAPTION: Reenactors posing during an event.

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: Special Events -- Springfield Armory hosts many special events each year, including ceremonies honoring the nation's military, past and present, on Armed Forces Day in May. Check at the front desk for current events. 

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: Live music and warm sunshine bring people together at Springfield Armory's historic grounds. Several couples dance in the daylight together on a wooden dance floor on the back lawn, sharing smiles and holding hands under the summer sun. The delight on the dance floor doesn't go unnoticed, as a group of visitors watch the excitement from comfortable lawn chairs in the grass behind the red-brick Armory building, which provides a perfect backdrop for the scene.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: One brightly-smiling couple is the central focus of the photograph, holding hands while they twirl on the tawny dancefloor and gaze into each other's eyes. The couple consists of a man and a woman with fair skin and brown hair, who appear to be around the age of thirty. The woman wears a 1940s-inspired sleeveless dress, mainly dark blue, with white polka dots and embellishments. Her hair is tied back at the nape of her neck with a decorative, dark-colored bow, allowing her smile to shine even brighter. At her feet, her black, thick-heeled formal shoes tap against the wooden dance floor, adding additional authenticity to the sounds of the concert. To her right, the man she holds hands and dances with smiles upon her. He wears a blue short-sleeved shirt, khaki slacks, and comfortable shoes that help him move with ease while guiding his dance partner.

Between the couple's interlocking eyes, the Armory's back tower clock is framed perfectly. The remainder of the Armory photographed lies to the couple's right, standing tall behind the group of ten to twenty visitors who watch the show from chairs along the Armory's grassy back lawn. The building's numerous vertical, white-paned windows reflect the sunlight from above, illuminating the dancefloor further.

On the left side of the photo, several couples of varied ages and attire sway in the distance. Their features are faint in view of the distance from the camera, but their more modern and casual attire can still be discerned. Above them, a bright summer sky shines high. To the far left, a Black Walnut tree stands in the background, its green foliage matching the tuft of lawn on the photo's bottom right. 

CAPTION: Summer concert on the historic grounds.

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Technical Community College 

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: The "Wall of Machine Guns" exhibit in Springfield Armory's museum showcases the weapon's evolution throughout U.S. history, displaying eleven historic machine guns behind four floor-to-ceiling glass panes. They are of different eras, shapes, and sizes, yet compliment each other while lined up side-by-side, positioned with their barrels facing right, resembling a regiment of soldiers standing at attention. Each metal gun stands upright against the cool, white tile floor of the museum, with no ammunition or firing capability to add warmth to their glass display. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The displayed machine guns are mounted on various supports, depending on their size and production year. Many are on metal wheeled carts, which resemble early cannons with wooden-spoked wheels. Others stand on metal tripods or wooden carts.

From left to right:

First, a Gatling multi-barrel, hand-cranked machine gun. This model is from 1862, type II, and manufactured by McWhinney, Rindge and company. It is a long, silver firearm with six barrels, and is well-known as an early rapid-fire machine gun. It is mounted on a large, metal gun carriage with two wheels, which resemble traditional, wooden-spoked wheels. 

Second, a Gatling multi-barrel, rapid-fire "Bulldog" machine gun, model 1877, manufactured by Colt. The gun is fully encased in a large, brass cylinder, which is mounted on a sturdy, dark metal tripod stand. 

Third, the T17, E2 "Vulcan" machine gun (M-61 prototype), manufactured by General Electric. This gun is far longer than the others, nearly double the length of the second-longest gun, the Gatling 1862. Its dark, metal, six-barrel rotary cannon is unmounted and displayed on a wooden table with small wheels on the bottom. 

Fourth, the Ager "Coffee Mill" rapid-fire machine gun, manufactured by Woodward and Cox. It is a thin, bronze-colored gun mounted on a large, metal gun carriage with two wheels, which resemble traditional, wooden-spoked wheels, slightly smaller than the Gatling 1862.

Fifth, the Billinghurst-Requa Volley Gun, circa 1862, manufactured by Billinghurst. It is a flat, triple-barreled gun mounted on a medium-sized metal gun carriage with two wheels, which resemble traditional, wooden-spoked wheels. Its wheels are about two-thirds of the height of the Ager "Coffee Mill" gun carriage to the left. 

Sixth, the Gardner rapid-fire machine gun, model 1877, manufactured by Pratt and Whitney. The gun is fully encased in a narrow, brass cylinder, which is mounted on a silver, metal tripod stand, shaped similarly to a telescope. 

Seventh, the Colt-Browning machine gun, model 1895, manufactured by Colt. The dark-colored gun resembles a small shotgun, and has an operating lever under the rear, below the stock. The gun is mounted on a gunmetal gray, metal tripod stand. 

Eighth, the Maxim machine gun, model 1904, manufactured by Colt. It is a dark, metal, cylindrical gun mounted on a silver, metal tripod stand, shaped similarly to a telescope. It is the same height as the two machine guns to its left, but has a larger circumference. 

Ninth, the Browning machine gun, model 1917, manufactured by Westinghouse. It is a gunmetal gray, cylindrical gun mounted on a short, silver, metal tripod stand, shaped similarly to a telescope. It has the same circumference as the Maxim machine gun, giving it a stockier appearance. 

Tenth, a German machine gun, model MG42, manufactured by Alkett. It is a long and light, gunmetal gray machine gun mounted on the Lafette 42 tripod, which has its two, smaller back legs propped up on the wall behind it. 

Lastly, the M39 machine gun, typically installed in fighter aircrafts in the late 20th century, is displayed on a dark brown wooden crate. The single-barreled, gunmetal gray revolver cannon is opened up so that visitors can see the inside of the weapon.

The exhibit's florescent lighting highlights each machine gun against the darker background, emphasizing their intricate metal components. The floor has white, rectangular labels in front of each piece, indicating additional information about them, which are illegible from the camera distance. 

CAPTION: Wall of Machine Guns

CREDIT: Copyright Jim Langone

RELATED TEXT: School Groups -- Embracing the "Parks As Classrooms" idea, Springfield Armory has designed programs to provide upper elementary, middle, and high school students hands-on experience in learning the Armory's history. 

DESCRIBING: A full-color vertical photograph.

SYNOPSIS: Within Springfield Armory’s front tower, a white spiral staircase ascends to the upper floors, its iron railings cold to the touch. Overhead, a wooden weapons crate dangles from a pulley, a reminder of the building’s industrial past.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Photographed from the first floor's main entranceway, the spiral staircase resembles a nautilus shell, winding up to the third floor. The camera captures its white walls and gray underside, highlighted by the streaks of sunlight pouring in through three of the tower's windows. Above, a shadow obscures the tower's circular ceiling, from which, a rope and pully suspend a large, rectangular wooden weapon's crate, shaped like a coffin. The excess long rope hangs from the lower wall of the staircase, coiled up like a snake. 

CAPTION: Spiral staircase in the Armory tower. 

CREDIT: Copyright Jim Langone

RELATED TEXT: Visit the Grounds -- You may explore the historic buildings and grounds on your own or join a park ranger-guided outdoor interpretive tour that highlights little-known aspects of Springfield Armory's rich 174-year history. 

From its position at the crest of a hill overlooking the Connecticut River, Springfield Armory exerted a profound influence over the city of Springfield and the nation. It carried out the manufacturing, storage, repair, testing and development functions assigned by the United States Army. In doing so it stimulated technological innovation, encouraged improved manufacturing processes, and fostered increased use of laborsaving machines. All of this had a lasting impact on American industry.

Walk these historic grounds known to Americans from George Washington to John F. Kennedy and to legions of men and women who, with their hands and inventive genius, worked to help shape America's destiny. Here, beginning in 1794, President Washington authorized the manufacture of flintlock muskets and other military weaponry. From these roots, Springfield Armory became the epicenter of United States military small arms research, development, and production until it closed in 1968. 

Springfield citizens worked diligently at this "Arsenal of Freedom" for 174 years to provide our military with the best infantry weapons necessary to safeguard the nation and its interests. This fostered an era of mechanical innovation at Springfield Armory that influenced the direction of American industry for decades. In recognition of this long history of production and invention, part of the Armory was designated a national historic landmark in 1960, and in 1974 Congress passed an act creating Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

The historic Main Arsenal building, the current Armory museum, was used to store the finished firearms. It is distinguished by its large tower topped by a flagpole and contains the park visitor center. A tour of the museum offers selections from the world's largest collection of American military firearms, a variety of historic and important industrial machinery, and several examples of Springfield Armory's significant contributions to the City of Springfield, the region, the country, and the world.

Today Springfield Armory National Historic Site is maintained through a partnership between the National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Springfield Technical Community College, and the City of Springfield. On approximately 55 acres, the historic buildings, fence, and landscape remain to show visitors Springfield Armory's original grandeur and beauty. Much remains as it has for two centuries, offering a rare glimpse into the site's long and fascinating past.

More Information

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

One Armory Square, Suite 2

Springfield, MA 01105-1299

Email: spar_interpretation@nps.gov

413-734-8551

www.nps.gov/spar

Springfield Armory is one of over 390 parks in the National Park System. Visit www.nps.gov to learn more about parks and National Park Service programs. 

DESCRIBING: A small, full-color regional map centered on Springfield, Massachusetts. 

SYNOPSIS: The Armory sits on Springfield’s east side, a short way east of the Connecticut River. From that anchor, the map shows interstates that ring and cross the city — I-91 north–south along the river, I-90 east–west near the top, with I-291 linking I-91 to the Armory area.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:

Orientation and legend: North is indicated with a compass at the lower right; a scale bar shows both miles and kilometers. Interstates appear as thick red lines; the Connecticut River is blue; local roads are thinner.

Armory location: “Springfield Armory National Historic Site” is labeled near Armory Street and Federal Street, on the city’s east side, just east of downtown.

Radiating routes:

West to the river: The Connecticut River runs north–south between Springfield and West Springfield.

Along the river: I-91 tracks the river through the city, with exits numbered on the map.

Across the top: The Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) spans east–west; a connection to I-291 is labeled.

Toward the site: I-291 arcs east from I-91 toward the Armory; I-391 is also shown in the area.

Regional cues: Labels point along I-90 toward Boston (east) and Albany (west), as indicated on the map. West Springfield is labeled west of the river; Agawam is southwest. 

Highways and Roads:

Interstate 91 runs vertically through the map, marked by a thick red line.

A branch labeled "Massachusetts Turnpike" (I-90) crosses horizontally at the top, with Exit 6 connecting to I-291.

Other marked highways include I-291 and Route 391.

Key Locations:

Springfield Armory National Historic Site is marked on the map. It is noted near several intersecting streets like Armory St and Federal St.

West Springfield and Agawam are labeled to the west and southwest, respectively.

The Connecticut River flows vertically on the map, indicated in blue.

Exits and Directions:

Exits 3, 4, and 6 are shown on the highways with direction indicators to Boston and Albany.

Compass and Scale:

There's a north-pointing compass at the bottom right corner.

A scale indicates distances in kilometers and miles.

The map primarily outlines transportation routes and geographic positioning in the Springfield region.

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A small, full-color map of central Springfield, Massachusetts

SYNOPSIS: The map centers on Springfield Armory National Historic Site within the Springfield Technical Community College campus, with the Springfield Museums to the southwest.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:

North is up. A scale bar and north arrow appear on the map. Color coding shows the Armory site in green, STCC in light pink, Federal Square in pink, and Armory Square in light tan. Labeled streets include Taylor, State, Federal, and Armory Street. A main gate opens from Federal Square. Within the green area, the Visitor Center, which hosts a museum, and the Armory Building are labeled. Railroad tracks run near Taylor Street. The Springfield Museums appear at the lower left, along State Street.

CREDIT: NPS/Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

Two partners of Springfield Armory are highlighted on the bottom of the brochure with two images and a description for each partnership. The next sections describe these in depth.

DESCRIBING: A full-color vertical photograph. 

SYNOPSIS: Photographed on a clear day, a diverse group of four young adults smile for a photo as they sit on green grass behind the Springfield Armory building. With textbooks in their laps and book bags by their side, the quartet appear to be students at Springfield Technical Community College. Behind the group, two partially visible trees with healthy green foliage frame them, covering all of the Springfield Armory building but its front tower.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A group of four young adults of different races and ethnicities sit next to each other on green grass and face the camera in relaxed positions, taking up the lower third of this vertical photograph.

From left to right- a black woman with a soft smile on her face, dressed in a causal black v-neck blazer and a matching shirt underneath, holds a textbook on her lap while she leans slightly on her right hand in the grass. Her black backpack rests on the grass in front of her, covering her legs from view. Beside her is a white man with a squinted smile, shading his eyes from the sun. He dons a red track jacket with white striped details, blue jeans, and red and white sneakers. He casually rests both arms on his bent knees as he holds a textbook in his right hand. Following, a man with tan skin wearing a blue shirt sits facing the man in the red track jacket, his legs obstructed by a gray backpack in front of him. He looks toward the camera with a small smile. Sat next to him, at the far right of the photo, a white woman smiles widely as she sits cross-legged with a textbook in her lap. She is wearing a hot pink button-up cardigan with rolled sleeves, a large black necklace, blue jeans, and Mary Jane flat shoes.

Behind the group of four, in the central section of the photograph, are two partially visible Black Walnut trees. Their dense green foliage largely obstructs the view of the Springfield Armory building, with only the top of the building's front tower and a sliver of its rear peeking through. Red brick with a white gutter that lines the top of the building is visible, as well as several white windows along the second and third stories of the building's rear.

In the top third of the photograph, the American flag waves from the flagpole at the center of the building's front tower. The flag is well displayed against the clear blue sky that covers the remainder of the photograph, eventually fading into the white background of the brochure. 

CAPTION: STCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity.

CREDIT: Springfield Technical Community College 

RELATED TEXT: The entrance to Springfield Armory National Historic Site is through the main gate of Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), founded in 1967. STCC is a two-year community college established on the former Armory site. It uses many former Armory buildings for classrooms and offices. The college moved in here in 1968, the year the Armory closed. Twenty acres of the 55 acre site remained in National Park Service hands for historic preservation. The remainder went to the college.

The college carries on the Armory's technological tradition, teaching engineering technology, including mechanical engineering.

www.stcc.edu

413-781-7822 

DESCRIBING: A full-color vertical photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A cutout image of a young black man wearing Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) merchandise against the white background of the brochure.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A young black man is photographed wearing a red hooded pull-over sweatshirt with bold yellow letters, outlined in white, reading "STCC" on the chest. He also dons casual black pants and black loafer shoes, closely shaved dark hair, and a soft grin on his face. He holds two college textbooks in his right hand, one of which reads "Healthy Personality", while his left hand rests in his front pants pocket as he poses casually.

The image's background is completely white.

CREDIT: Springfield Technical Community College 

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: In the center of the Springfield Museums' courtyard, their bronze Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden shines in the sunlight. Horton, a playful cartoon elephant, is the focus of the piece, and is surrounded by smaller sculptures, "Whos" from Dr. Seuss's imaginary Whoville. Behind the piece is a section of the courtyard's lush green grassy area, with the red- brick exterior of the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum posing behind. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: On the right side of the photograph, Horton stands tall, capturing most of the scene. He stands on a bronze platform, facing the camera; his front left leg is lifted to his chest while he looks upward, raising his long, spiral trunk to the sky. His large ears are on full display, fanning forward and listening intently to the Who children who surround him. 

To the left of Horton, in the lower half of the photograph, four sculpted Who children play in the courtyard. One of the children stands next to Horton; his back turned, he holds onto a large slab of bronze in front of him, upon which two other Who children balance upon, one lifting the other into the air. On the far left, looking up at Horton from across the bronze platform, is a lone Who child wearing a dress and a bow in her hair. Surrounding the scene are dynamic bronze embellishments which accentuate the whimsical surrealism of the piece.

Behind the courtyard and sculpture garden, the Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum stands two stories tall, its red-brick exterior and abundance of windows basking in the sunshine. The building's first story has a series of arches supporting its outer wall, revealing a covered exterior corridor, or loggia, which allows visitors to walk along it, outside, but protected from sun, snow, or rain. 

Two visitors, an adult and child holding hands, walk along a concrete pathway in the courtyard, towards a small set of stairs that lead to the first story corridor, beneath one of the building's archways. On either side of the concrete steps, green, manicured bushes decorate the front of the corridor. The remainder of the courtyard visible consists of lush green grass shaded by a tall, leafy tree to the far left, and a black, ornate lamppost in the center of the photo, ready to illuminate the bronze sculptures when the sunlight fades. 

CAPTION: Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden.

CREDIT: Dr. Seuss National Memorial

RELATED TEXT: 
Just blocks from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site you'll find the Springfield Museums, a unique complex of five outstanding museums filled with art, science, and history, plus the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Travel back to the time of the dinosaurs, view art from around the world, and learn about the region's history.

One admission ticket provides entry to all museums—and parking is free!

www.springfieldmuseums.org 

DESCRIBING: A full-color vertical photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A cutout image of a full suit of traditional Japanese samurai armor, displayed on a mannequin in the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum in Springfield. The armor is primarily black, with accents of gold and orange, and contrasts against the white background of the brochure. The armor covers the mannequin from head to toe, with key features being: a horned helmet, mustached face mask, and a handheld baton with a decorative white tassel. The armor also features matching black shoulder pads, arm and shin protectors, breastplate, gloves, skirt, and shoes.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: From head to toe, the mannequin wears a dark, metal Japanese helmet, or kabuto, with a golden crest mounted on top. The crest is brandished with a figure possessing the appearance of a mythical creature, consisting of a centric, horizontal, oval head, about the size of a softball, two small red eyes at the head's symmetrical, exterior peaks, two long protruding horns directly above the eyes, and a vertical ring in the center, at the head's apex. Behind the head, a pair of sand-colored wings extend up and outward, their height level with the golden ring's midpoint, between them. At each side of the wings, a beige, ornate oblong structure rises from behind the helmet's visor, ending just below the red eyes of the beast. All together, the helmet crest creates a creature resembling an armored dragon or winged bull, ready to intimidate any foe. 

Below the helmet's crest and visor, an attached nape guard runs from just above the mannequin's ears to the top of the shoulders, curving around the back of the neck and expanding outward, ending near the lateral point of each collarbone. The nape guard matches the color of the dark helmet, with the exception of its golden trim, which matches the golden crest above. Attached to each side of the bottom of the helmet's visor is a long, orange rope. The two ropes are tied together in a bow at the mannequin's throat, in front of the black throat guard that sits from chin to collarbone. The ropes' tail ends extend below the naval, where they end in two decorative tassels. 

Between the helmet and throat guard is a black mask that conceals the face entirely. Decorating the mask is a large, white mustache, obscuring the bottom half of the mask, with only the chin exposed. 

On the arms and torso, a beige kimono, adorned with black detailing of repeating curved lines with a partly shaded circled between each curve, lays beneath substantial body armor. Black shoulder armor extends from the top of each shoulder to the middle of each bicep, leaving only a few inches of space before black forearm guards begin, just below the elbow. The forearm guards extend down to each wrist, leading to matching, black gloves. Protecting the torso is a black breastplate, or dō, which begins at the lower chest and reaches the waist. Its shape resembles a double-tiered cake, the top tier the same width as the neck guard above, and the lower tier, beginning at the bottom of the ribs, spanning the width of the torso and hips.

Directly below the dō breastplate is a black, armored tasset, or thigh covering, wrapped around the mannequin like a skirt. The tasset reaches the lower thigh, where its border is decorated with off-white embellishments. Underneath, two black thigh guards offer extra protection, reaching the knee, where they overlap with brown shin guards that protect the rest of the legs. Black shoes complete the suit of armor.

The image's background is completely white.

CAPTION:  George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum

CREDIT: Springfield Museums

The back of the brochure includes both black-and white and color photographs, paintings, illustrations, posters, quotes, and text.  Across the top is a black bar with white text, reading, “Highlights of Springfield Armory History”, on the left side.

Below the black bar, side two of the brochure is broken up into five sections - "Clock Tower", "The Evolution of Firearms", "1700s", "1800s", and "1900s".

In the "Clock Tower" section, Springfield Armory’s brick-red front tower fills the left side of the page, taking up about one-fifth of the space, vertically.

The rest of the page is visually divided into three horizontal sections, which form a timeline. The timeline starts at the top of the page in the 1700s, and ends at the bottom of the page in the 1900s. The 1800s section spans the entire middle section of the page, and is the size of the two other sections, combined. Each horizontal section is accompanied with text and photographs from the respective eras. 

Dispersed throughout the timeline, eight photos of historic firearms are placed in their respective century. In this audio described brochure, the firearms are described in their own section, labelled "The Evolution of Firearms". This section is listed prior to the three centuries. This choice was made in attempt to highlight the guns and their distinguishing qualities. 

We strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For information go to a visitor center, ask a ranger, call, or check our website: www.nps.gov/spar. 

TEXT:

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

One Armory Square, Suite 2

Springfield, MA 01105-1299

Email: spar_interpretation@nps.gov

413-734-8551

www.nps.gov/spar

DESCRIBING: A black bar across the width of the brochure.

SYNOPSIS: Across the top of the page is a black banner with large white text that reads: "Highlights of Springfield Armory History".

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This black banner is used to identify official publications of the National Park Service. 

CAPTION: Highlights of Springfield Armory History

CREDIT: National Park Service

DESCRIBING: A full-color vertical photograph, digitally edited to give the appearance of an illustration.

SYNOPSIS: Springfield Armory's front tower stands statuesque, stretching the length of the brochure. Photographed from its left side, the tower's three stories of red brick exterior, historic parapet roof, and tall flagpole waving the American flag are on clear display. Its circular black-and-white clock rests in the center of the third story, drawing attention.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The Armory building’s brick-red front tower fills the left side of the brochure’s back, taking up about one-fifth of the page. 

The American flag flying from the center of the tower's roof is set against the white backdrop of the brochure, intensifying its presence. Below, the tower's black clock with white details is vertically aligned with the white-paned windows on the first and second stories. These add intriguing details; as does the building's main entrance on its first story. 

The black, arched exterior entrance bears an automated sliding glass door, which can be reached from a short, cement stairway to its right side or by a straight metal ramp that leads directly to the door.

From the entrance to the third floor, four sentences of red text with a faint white shadow overlay the tower’s brick wall.

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 
For almost two centuries the hilltop overlooking the Connecticut River was an important place for the development and manufacture of arms for the American soldier.

Springfield Armory evolved from a place where skilled craftsmen built, piece by piece, one musket at a time, into a center pioneering in mass-production techniques, and finally into an institute famous for its research and development.

In 1964 the Defense Department decided that private suppliers could provide the necessary weapons. In 1968 the armory was closed.

Although designated a national historic landmark in 1960, it was not until 1974 that the Armory became a National Historic Site and part of the National Park System preserved for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

This section describes the eight historic firearms displayed on the back of the brochure. The guns are placed in their respective section of the brochure's timeline: either in the 1700s, 1800s, or 1900s.

The guns are described in chronological order; however, they do not appear in the same order here as they do on the physical brochure. The decision to describe the guns in their own section, separate from the three centuries, was made in attempt to highlight their distinguishing qualities. The guns' key, functional differences are detailed in the synopsis of each image description, while their physical features are detailed in the in-depth descriptions. The in-depth descriptions include some repetition due to the guns' similarities in appearance. 

Each cut-out image of the historic firearm is displayed horizontally against the white background of the brochure. Each gun's butt plate is to the viewer's left and its muzzle to the viewer's right. Below each gun's muzzle lies a detached, metal bayonet. 

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A long and lean firearm, the 1795 Flintlock Musket's most prominent features are its dark walnut wood stock and brightly polished metal barrel. At five feet long, it is only slightly shorter than the average stature of the American soldier of its time. 

The musket is named for and characterized by its distinctive flintlock mechanism. Upon firing, a small flint fragment strikes a piece of steel atop the gun's metal lock plate. This friction creates sparks, which ignites the gunpowder at the back of the barrel, propelling the bullet forward.  

Below the musket's muzzle, a detached, metal spike bayonet, roughly one-third of the gun's length, rests horizontally.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:  The Flintlock Musket is displayed horizontally against the white background of the brochure. Its butt plate is to the viewer's left and its muzzle is to the viewer's right

From left to right, the musket's rear consists of a vertical, gunmetal gray butt plate, attached to the rear of the wooden gun stock. The rear of the gun stock is shaped like an elongated triangle, forming a right-angle in its top-left corner. Its top side runs horizontally from the gun's butt plate to the trigger, where it fuses with the rest of the stock.

The metal trigger rests on the underside of the gun, where the triangular rear stock meets the linear front stock. It is surrounded by a metal trigger guard, shaped like a half-circle, which also rests underneath the stock. 

Above the trigger and trigger guard, the gun's metal lock plate is embedded into the side of the wooden stock, facing the viewer. The lock plate makes up the gun's flintlock firing mechanism. It consists of the cock, a metal hammer that holds a small piece of flint, and the steel frizzen, shaped like a capital L. The cock and frizzen jut out slightly at a 45 degree angle, uncocked, extending upward from the lock plate. 

The gun's long metal barrel begins where the cock and frizzen meet. The barrel is uncovered on the upper side. On the bottom side, it unites with the dark wooden stock, which ends just before the front end of the barrel, or muzzle. Halfway down the musket, there is a metal barrel band that wraps around the gun, securing the barrel in the stock. Two-thirds down the gun's length, another barrel band, with an empty sling loop attached to its underside, provides additional reinforcement.  Further down the gun, a few inches from the muzzle, is a longer barrel band, which wraps around the gun's ramrod, barrel and stock. 

The musket's slim, metal ramrod is stored on the underside of the barrel, where it is safely tucked away for easy access. The only visible part of the ramrod is its top two inches, which extend from its storage pipe and come even with the end of the muzzle. 

Below the musket's muzzle, a detached, metal spike bayonet, roughly one-third of the gun's length, rests horizontally. The bayonet spans from the gun's sling loop to the end of the muzzle. Its rear is a cylindrical metal tube, slightly larger than the gun's muzzle, which fastens to the muzzle when fixed.  Attached to the underside of the front of the tube, the bayonet spike curves down and to the right at a 90 degree angle, spanning one-third of the forestock's length and ending in a sharp point.

The musket and bayonet image is cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background. The image is placed in the 1700s section of the brochure's timeline, near the top right corner of the back page. 

CAPTION: U.S. Flintlock Musket, Model 1795

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A slender, five-foot long firearm; the first of its American predecessors manufactured with entirely interchangeable, machine-made parts. The 1842 Musket's most evident features are its brown walnut wood stock and shiny, metal barrel.

The musket is named for and characterized by its reliance upon a percussion cap. This small, metal ignition device contains shock-sensitive explosive material. The gun's cock, a mobile, metal hammer above the trigger, strikes the percussion cap when the gun is fired. This percussive force detonates the explosive material inside the cap, releasing sparks and igniting the gunpowder at the back of the barrel, which launches the bullet forward.  

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The Percussion Musket is displayed horizontally against the white background of the brochure, with its butt plate to the viewer's left and muzzle to the viewer's right. 

From left to right, the musket's rear consists of a vertical, metal butt plate, silver in color, attached to the rear of the wooden gun stock. The rear of the gun stock is shaped like an elongated triangle, its central point facing right, toward the gun's trigger. The metal trigger and rounded trigger guard rest on the underside of the gun, to the right of the gun's triangular back-end.

Above the trigger and trigger guard, the gun's metal lock plate is embedded into the side of the wooden stock, facing the viewer. The lock plate makes up the gun's caplock firing mechanism. It consists of the cock, also known as a percussion hammer, and nipple, a small, metal cone that holds the percussion cap in place. The cock extends upwards from the lock plate, perpendicular to the barrel. It resembles a small faucet, its spout facing right, resting on the nipple, at the back of the barrel. 

The long, metal barrel is uncovered on the upper side. On the bottom side, it unites with the wooden stock, which ends just before the front end of the barrel, or muzzle. Halfway down the musket, there is a metal barrel band that wraps around the gun, securing the barrel in the stock. Two-thirds down the gun's length, another barrel band, with an empty sling loop attached to its underside, provides additional reinforcement. Further down the gun, a few inches from the muzzle, is a longer barrel band, which wraps around the gun's ramrod, barrel and stock. The musket's slim, metal ramrod is stored on the underside of the barrel, where it is safely tucked away for easy access. 

Below the musket's muzzle and ramrod lies a detached, metal spike bayonet. The bayonet ranges from the middle of the gun to the end of the muzzle. Its rear is a cylindrical metal tube, slightly larger than the gun's muzzle, which acts as a socket by fastening to the muzzle when fixed. Attached to the underside of the front of the tube, the bayonet spike curves down and to the right at a 90 degree angle, spanning one-third of the gun's length and ending in a sharp point.

The musket and bayonet image is cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background. The image is placed in the 1800s section of the brochure's timeline, near the center of the back page. 

CAPTION: U.S. Percussion Musket, Model 1842

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A long and lean used during the American Civil War. With a dark wooden stock and silver metal barrel, it looks very similar to precursory American muskets. 

The  Rifle-Musket is distinguished by its external musket design combined with rifling of its barrel's internal surface. The rifled barrel is defined by its spiral grooves, which spin the bullet when fired. This improves stability, range, and accuracy in comparison to smoothbore muskets. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:  The Rifle-Musket is displayed horizontally against the white background of the brochure, with its butt plate to the viewer's left and muzzle to the viewer's right. 

From left to right, the rifle-musket's rear consists of a vertical, metal butt plate, silver in color, attached to the rear of the wooden gun stock. The rear of the gun stock is shaped like an elongated triangle, its central point facing right, toward the gun's trigger. The metal trigger and rounded trigger guard rest on the underside of the gun, to the right of the gun's triangular back-end.

Above the trigger and trigger guard, the gun's metal lock plate is embedded into the side of the wooden stock, facing the viewer. The lock plate makes up the gun's caplock firing mechanism. It consists of the cock, also known as a percussion hammer, and nipple, a small, metal cone that holds the percussion cap in place. The cock extends upwards from the lock plate, perpendicular to the barrel. It resembles a small faucet, its spout facing right, resting on the nipple, at the back of the barrel. About two inches to the right of the nipple, resting atop the gun's barrel, is a small, metal flip-up rear sight. The sight, when properly aligned with the front sight atop the gun's muzzle, aids shot placement accuracy. 

The long, metal barrel is uncovered on the upper side. On the bottom side, it unites with the dark wooden stock, which ends just before the front end of the barrel, or muzzle. Halfway down the musket, there is a metal barrel band that wraps around the gun, securing the barrel in the stock. Two-thirds down the gun's length, another barrel band, with an empty sling loop attached to its underside, provides additional reinforcement. Further down the gun, a few inches from the muzzle, is a third barrel band, which wraps around the gun's ramrod, barrel and stock. The rifle-musket's slim, metal ramrod is stored on the underside of the barrel, where it is safely tucked away for easy access. 

Below the gun's muzzle is a detached, metal spike bayonet. The bayonet begins at the middle of the gun and stops at the end of the gun's muzzle. Its rear is a cylindrical metal tube, slightly larger than the gun's muzzle, which acts as a socket by fastening to the muzzle when fixed. Attached to the underside of the front of the tube, the bayonet spike curves down and to the right at a 90 degree angle, spanning one-third of the gun's length and ending in a sharp point.

The musket and bayonet image is cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background. The image is placed in the 1800s section of the brochure's timeline, near the center of the back page. 

CAPTION: U.S. Rifle-Musket, Model 1861

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A full-color, vertical photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A slim rifle, just over four-feet long, with a reddish-brown wooden stock and silver metal barrel. Its 

Its lock plate mechanism juts out slightly, just above the gun's trigger. A dark metal bayonet is detached, resting below the gun's muzzle and ramrod at the end of the barrel. The rifle and bayonet images are cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:  The Rifle is displayed horizontally against the white background of the brochure, with its butt plate to the viewer's left and muzzle to the viewer's right.

From left to right, the rifle's rear consists of a vertical, metal butt plate, silver in color, attached to the rear of the wooden gun stock. The rear of the gun stock is shaped like an elongated triangle, its central point facing right, toward the gun's trigger. The metal trigger and rounded trigger guard rest on the underside of the gun, to the right of the gun's triangular back-end.

Above the trigger and trigger guard, the gun's metal lock plate is embedded into the side of the wooden stock, facing the viewer. The lock plate makes up the gun's caplock firing mechanism. It consists of the cock, also known as a percussion hammer, and nipple, a small, metal cone that holds the percussion cap in place. The cock extends upwards from the lock plate, perpendicular to the barrel. It resembles a small faucet, its spout facing right, resting on the nipple, at the back of the barrel. About two inches to the right of the nipple, resting atop the gun's barrel, is a small, metal flip-up rear sight. The sight, when properly aligned with the front sight atop the gun's muzzle, aids shot placement accuracy. 

The long, metal barrel is uncovered on the upper side. On the bottom side, it unites with the dark wooden stock, which ends just before the front end of the barrel, or muzzle. Halfway down the musket, there is a metal barrel band that wraps around the gun, securing the barrel in the stock. Two-thirds down the gun's length, another barrel band, with an empty sling loop attached to its underside, provides additional reinforcement. Further down the gun, a few inches from the muzzle, is a third barrel band, which wraps around the gun's ramrod, barrel and stock. The rifle's slim, metal ramrod is stored on the underside of the barrel, where it is safely tucked away for easy access. 

Below the gun's muzzle is a detached, metal spike bayonet. The bayonet begins at the middle of the gun and stops at the end of the gun's muzzle. Its rear is a cylindrical metal tube, slightly larger than the gun's muzzle, which acts as a socket by fastening to the muzzle when fixed. Attached to the underside of the front of the tube, the bayonet spike curves down and to the right at a 90 degree angle, spanning one-third of the gun's length and ending in a sharp point.

The musket and bayonet image is cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background. The image is placed in the 1800s section of the brochure's timeline, on the left side of the center of the back page.  

CAPTION: U.S. Rifle, Model 1873

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A long, antique firearm with a reddish-brown wooden stock and silver metal barrel. Its safety juts out slightly, just above the gun's trigger. A long dark knife bayonet with a wooden handle and metal blade is detached, resting below the gun's muzzle at the end of the barrel. The rifle and knife bayonet images are cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: 

The image shows a U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model 1892, displayed horizontally across the page, with its knife bayonet placed just below it in parallel.

Starting at the rear, the rifle has a smooth, rounded wooden butt in polished brown wood. The butt flows into the narrower wrist of the stock, which then extends forward as the forearm beneath the barrel. The wood is warm in tone, with visible grain, giving the rifle a sturdy yet refined look.

At the center sits the metal receiver, finished in dark steel. On its right side is the bolt, with a short handle angled outward. The receiver also houses the magazine, part of the rifle’s distinctive design. From here, the round steel barrel extends straight forward, running above the wooden forearm. A rear sight sits close to the receiver, while a small front sight projects upward near the muzzle. The barrel is held in place with slim metal bands, and it ends in a clean circular muzzle.

Beneath the rifle, the knife bayonet is shown separately but aligned with it. The bayonet has a compact metal handle with a circular mounting ring near its base, designed to fit over the rifle’s muzzle. Extending from the handle is a long, straight blade of dark steel. The blade is narrow and tapers gradually to a sharp point, with a faint groove along its surface that reduces weight and adds strength.

CAPTION: U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model 1892

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1891 -- The Experimental Department is established at Springfield Armory, officially creating a division responsible for the design and testing of various small arms. This new department would examine and develop all subsequent U.S. rifle designs.

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A long, 1903 firearm with a brown wooden stock and gunmetal barrel. Its safety juts out slightly, just above the gun's trigger. A long knife bayonet with a wooden handle and metal blade is detached, resting below the gun's muzzle at the end of the barrel. The rifle and knife bayonet images are cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows a U.S. Magazine Rifle, Model 1903, displayed horizontally across the page, with its knife bayonet placed just below it in parallel.

At the rear, the rifle has a broad, flat wooden butt with a smooth, polished surface in warm brown wood. The stock narrows into the wrist and then continues forward as the long wooden forearm beneath the barrel. The grain of the wood is visible, giving it a sturdy but refined look.

Near the center is the receiver, a compact block of dark steel set into the stock. On top sits the bolt mechanism, with its handle angled outward on the right side. Small metal details mark the magazine and trigger guard area beneath the action. From the receiver forward, a long round barrel extends in a straight line, supported by dark steel bands that fasten it to the wooden forearm. A rear sight assembly rises above the barrel close to the receiver, while a small front sight projects at the muzzle end. The muzzle itself is clean and round, completing the sleek forward profile.

Below the rifle is the knife bayonet, displayed separately. Its handle is short and straight, made of wood with dark steel fittings, and ends with a metal mounting ring designed to attach to the rifle. Extending from the handle is a long, narrow blade of dark steel. The blade runs straight and even, tapering to a sharp point, with a faint groove visible along its surface.

CAPTION: U. S. Magazine Rifle, Model 1903

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: WWI -- The Armory produces over 265,000 bolt-action Model 1903 rifles for American troops. It is still considered one of the most accurate weapons ever made.

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A long, 1936 firearm with a reddish-brown wooden stock and gunmetal barrel. Its safety juts out slightly, just above the gun's trigger. A long knife bayonet with a black handle and metal blade is detached, resting below the gun's muzzle at the end of the barrel. The rifle and bayonet images are cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows a U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 displayed horizontally across the page, with its knife bayonet placed just below it in parallel.

At the rear, the rifle has a broad, flat, wooden butt, smoothly finished in medium brown wood. The stock narrows through the wrist and continues forward as a long, straight wooden forearm, supporting the rifle’s metal receiver and barrel. The wood grain is visible, giving it a polished but functional appearance.

Near the center, the dark steel receiver is set into the stock. On top is the rifle’s distinctive action: a squared metal block with a prominent rear sight assembly rising above it. The trigger guard is positioned just beneath this central section, integrated into the wooden stock.

From the receiver forward, the round steel barrel extends in a straight line, partially enclosed by the forearm. The forward section shows bands of dark steel securing barrel to stock. At the far end, the barrel terminates in a muzzle with a small protective front sight post mounted above it.  The exposed portion of barrel has a second cylinder beneath it, the gas tube. This redirects gas to a piston mechanism hidden within the stock.

Directly below the rifle lies the knife bayonet, aligned parallel. Its handle is short and straight, finished in dark metal with a protective crossguard between the grip and blade. The blade itself is long, narrow, and double-edged, tapering smoothly to a sharp point. Its steel surface is darker near the handle and lighter toward the edge, with a faint sheen that suggests a fuller groove along its center.

CAPTION: U.S. Rifle, Cal. .30, M1

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: WWII -- The installation of mass-production machinery in the early 1930's allows for the manufacture of 3.5 million M1 rifles through 1945. Used by U.S. troops around the world, it was deemed by General George S. Patton as "...the greatest battle implement ever devised."

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal photograph.

SYNOPSIS: A long, 1957 firearm with a reddish-brown wooden stock and gunmetal barrel. Its safety and rear sight jut out slightly, just above the gun's trigger. Its silver magazine is attached about two inches in front of the trigger on the underside of the gun. A large knife bayonet with a black handle and metal blade is detached, resting below the gun's muzzle at the end of the barrel. The rifle and knife bayonet images are cut-out and displayed on the brochure's light background.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows a U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M14 displayed horizontally across the page, with its knife bayonet placed just below it in parallel.

At the rear, the rifle has a broad, flat wooden butt, smoothly finished in medium brown wood. The stock narrows through the wrist and continues forward as a long, straight wooden forearm, supporting the rifle’s metal receiver and barrel. The wood grain is visible, giving it a polished but functional appearance.

Near the center, the dark steel receiver is set into the stock. On top is the rifle’s distinctive action: a squared metal block with a prominent rear sight assembly rising above it. The trigger guard is positioned just beneath this central section, integrated into the wooden stock. To the right of the trigger and trigger guard is the gun's magazine. It is a large, rectangular, metal clip that is inserted into the the bottom of the gun, at the gun's midpoint. 

The front half of the gun holds its metal barrel, which extends past the gun's wooden stock by over a foot. 

Directly below the rifle lies the bayonet, aligned parallel. Its handle is short and straight, finished in dark metal with a protective crossguard between the grip and blade. The blade itself is long, narrow, and double-edged, tapering smoothly to a sharp point. Its steel surface is darker near the handle and lighter toward the edge, with a faint sheen that suggests a fuller groove along its center.

CAPTION: U.S. Rifle, 7.62mm, M14

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1957 -- The M14 rifle is the last shoulder weapon produced at Springfield Armory. Phased out as a standard infantry weapon in 1966, it was the basis for the M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS), which was standard issue to military sniper teams until 1988, though it is still available to military sharpshooters today.

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal image, painted by Don Troiani in 1984.

SYNOPSIS: Seven Colonial militiamen, four standing and three kneeling, brace themselves for battle in the golden grass field of Lexington Common. Their backs are shown as they raise their muskets; two of the militiamen aim across the field at the redcoat soldiers in the distance, while the others reload. In the foreground, surrounding the redcoats, billowing white smoke obscures the view. Partially visible is a white, three-story house directly behind the battlefield.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The Colonial militiamen adorn gray wigs, dark tricorn hats, long coats, white knee-high socks, and dark leather shoes resting below the ankles. The men are shown from the back, with the exception of one; he stands in the center of the painting with his feet and body facing right, while his gaze is set straight ahead, towards the British troops. He wears a black tricorn hat with a gray wig underneath, combed neatly and tied back behind his ears. A white turtleneck rests just below his chin, with a navy tunic layered on top and tucked into his dark blue, form-fitting pants, which end just below his knees. Beneath his trousers are long white socks that lead to black leather buckle shoes. Layered over top is a long, light gray coat that reaches his knees, and a dark brown leather bag slung over his right shoulder and across his body—a cartridge box for his ammunition. In his hands, he holds a flintlock musket with a dark brown, wooden stock and gunmetal barrel. 

Comprising the left side of the painting, four fellow militiamen stand to the left of the central soldier, facing the British troop across the hayfield. The three men in front wear dark blue, knee-length coats and take aim at the opposing company, while one man, behind them, wears a camel-colored coat and holds his musket in his right hand. He appears to be reloading his firearm, with his dark leather cartridge box at his right hip, waiting to be opened and put to use. 

The remaining two of the Colonial militiamen kneel on the ground, actively reloading their muskets. Neither of these men adorn the tricorn hats of their fellow soldiers, their faces fully exposed to the sunlight piercing through the enveloping gun smoke. The two men wear long brown coats and have their cartridge boxes placed on the ground, beside them, rather than slung over their shoulders. Though their faces are partially obscured, a look of deep concentration and a strong sense of urgency can be interpreted through their furrowed brows and tense body language. 

Across the unkempt hayfield, taking up the middle section of the right side of the painting, a line of British soldiers wearing bright red coats, white trousers, and dark tricorn hats stand at the ready. Far more British soldiers are shown than the seven colonial militiamen in the foreground, looking like an impressive foe, even from the higher ground that the colonial militia possesses. The British troop also have two calvary men on tall brown horses, at the far right of the front line, looking formal and experienced compared to the colonial militia.

Behind the British troops, a white, three-story house with a dark gray roof looms eerily, its existence mostly obscured by the white gun smoke lingering in the open air. The once quaint farm town of Lexington is primarily hidden from view, with mere glimpses of green trees and faraway buildings scarcely visible through the heavy smoke that bleeds into the pale blue sky above. 

CAPTION: Battle at Lexington Green

CREDIT: Courtesy Don Troiani

RELATED TEXT: Revolution

DESCRIBING: A black-and-white horizontal ink illustration. 

SYNOPSIS: A black, pen and ink drawing of an elongated, single-story, brick building. Its triangular, ridged roof slopes down towards its long, exterior walls. It is drawn from a three-quarter view, with two of its four walls and one side of its roof visible.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The arsenal building's long, rectangular side wall is drawn with six, white vertical panels extending from its surface, towards the viewer. These panels are the only part of the building's surface that are not made of brick. At the building's right-hand face, its small, rectangular front door is located beneath its gable, the triangular section of wall below the roof's peak. Between the front door and gable, three circular features decorate the face. It is unclear what material these three circles are made of.

The building's sloped roof is filled in with parallel lines running from top to bottom, resembling rectangular wooden planks. Rising up from the roof, at the very front and back of the building, are two small, vertical rectangles. 

The ground beneath the building is established by repeating, short, textured lines.

CAPTION: Continental Arsenal

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT -- 1777 A major arsenal is established here after early battles of the war in the northern states showed the need for a place to store weapons and ammunition within reach of American troops and out of British hands. 

DESCRIBING: A woodcut ink print, bisected by a photograph of a stone monument.

SYNOPSIS: A black-and-white art print of Shays' rebellion, featuring Daniel Shays on the left and Job Shattuck on the right, has an overlaid, grayscale image of the Wait Monument over top. The Wait Monument is the only surviving artifact from Shays' rebellion.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The print of Shay's rebellion is split into two sides.

Starting on the left side, Daniel Shays stands facing towards the viewer's right, with his left hand on his hip and his right hand firmly grasping his sword at his side. He wears a black, tricorn hat over his shoulder-length hair, and is covered by an extravagant black coat that runs from collar to hip. His pants are not well detailed and are hard to distinguish. 

On the right side, Job Shattuck stands, facing Shays. He, too, wears a tricorn hat over shoulder-length hair. He dons a long, white coat over a dark tunic and white pants. His right hand holds a rolled up flag in front of him while his left hand holds a dagger at his side. Behind him, slightly to the left, is a cannon with wooden-spoked wheels. A thin black line frames the image, making a rectangular, horizontal border.

CAPTION: Shays' Rebellion

CREDIT: NPS /  Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1787 Led by Capt. Daniel Shays (pictured here with Job Shattuck), an army of distressed citizens try to storm and occupy Springfield Arsenal following a series of mob actions blocking state courts from seizing their property for debt. The rebels are repulsed by artillery and later scattered by militia. Shays' Rebellion, as it became known, brings reforms from the Massachusetts government and helps convince states to adopt the new U.S. Constitution. 

DESCRIBING: A cut-out photograph of a gray, stone monument.

SYNOPSIS: The Wait Monument is shown bisecting a woodcut ink print of Shay's rebellion, featuring Daniel Shays on the left and Job Shattuck on the right.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The weathered, gray, sandstone monument is shaped like a tall tombstone and adorned with Masonic symbols. At its peak, a sun is carved into the stone. Below the sun, to the left, is a carved star, and to the right is a carved crescent moon. Below the three symbols appears to be a gateway or door between two posts. Underneath the images, along the tall, rectangular base, is faint writing. The only legible words are "Boston Road", written in the center of the piece. 

The monument is also adorned with bullet holes from shots fired during Shays' rebellion.

CAPTION: The Wait Monument, the only surviving artifact from Shays' attack on the arsenal. 

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A full-color portrait painting.

SYNOPSIS: With a solemn expression and distant gaze, George Washington looks to his right, poised and dignified. He is shown from the chest-up wearing a blue military coat with buff trim and shoulder epaulets, which he commonly wore for life portraits. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Washington's powdered hair is pulled back and his high-collared uniform covers most of his neck,  drawing focus to his face. His uniform is elaborate. A white ruffled shirt sits beneath a dark blue coat detailed with buff-colored accessories: a rise-and-fall collar and shoulder epaulets. The blue-and-buff colors of the uniform were devised by Washington’s in 1775, and worn by him until his death in 1799.

The portrait is cut-out, its lightly shadowed edges fading into the white background of the brochure.

CAPTION: George Washington

CREDIT: Metropolitan Museum of Art

RELATED TEXT: "If we are to secure peace one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity it must be known that we are at all times ready for war." George Washington, 1793 

DESCRIBING: A small, black-and-white emblem.

SYNOPSIS: Springfield Armory National Historic Site's original 1794 crest sits atop the white background of the brochure. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Springfield Armory's crest is composed of three illustrated pieces placed behind a hollow white circle, labelled "Springfield Armory 1794". The top half of the circle reads "Springfield-Armory" in black capital letters. At the bottom center of the circle, "1794" is written in matching font, size, and color. Behind the labeled circle lie two, interlocking cannons, which form an "X" shape. Balanced upon the intersection of the cannons, just below the top arc of the circle, is a small, shaded circle, depicting a bomb. Lastly, above the labeled circle and at the crest's peak, is a small flame, igniting the bomb.

CAPTION: Springfield Armory

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1794 -- The new federal government decides to manufacture its own muskets so that the nation would not be dependent on foreign arms. President George Washington selects Springfield as the site of one of two federal armories. The second national armory is built in Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and operated until the beginning of the Civil War, when it is destroyed by the North to weaken the industrial capabilities of the southern states. 

DESCRIBING: A sepia black-and-white horizontal ink illustration, its sides slightly faded.

SYNOPSIS: An artist's depiction of Springfield Armory's forging room shows two men working with handheld tools while surrounded by large machinery. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This view of the inside of the Forging Room of the Water Shops shows the use of water-powered trip hammers to shape and weld hot iron and steel.

In the foreground, making up the lower half of the image, the two men in the scene are hard at work. They wear long pants, shirts with rolled sleeves, knee-length aprons, and short-brimmed hats while they shape long metal rods. 

In the middle of the forging room, one of the men works with the help of the six-foot tall trip hammer in front of him, to the viewer's right. Using the trip hammer's mechanical force, he shapes the long piece of metal that he extends out in front of him with both hands, waist-high, placing it on the anvil below the hammer.

On the right side of the room, the other worker wields a hammer in his right hand while holding a long strip of metal in his left, held out at his waist. He places the metal strip on a large black anvil that sits on a square block, in front of him, to the viewer's left. The anvil reaches the worker's waist, allowing him to stand up straight while he physically hammers the strip of metal placed on top of it into the shape he desires. At the worker's back, on the far right of the image, a ten-foot tall wooden rack holds four rows of long metal rods, which await to be forged. 

At the right side of the forging room, the dark forge roars as puffs of white smoke rise from it, drafting upward into the room's stale air. The forge is mostly obscured by tools and scrap metal placed in front of it.

Behind the workers are large, wooden posts and beams connected by metal bolts. These, along with the building's walls and ceiling, make up the image's background, in the top half of the scene. The wooden posts nearly reach the ceiling, roughly 20 feet tall. 

CAPTION: Forging Room

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1795 -- Springfield Armory begins weapon production. In one of the earliest known illustrations of the forging room interior (this image), the large 19th-century trip-hammers contrast with the hand-work that characterized the earliest years at the Armory.

DESCRIBING: A full-color rectangular vertical image.

SYNOPSIS: The 1795 U.S. flag is shown vertically; its blue rectangle with fifteen white stars sits in the top right corner of the image, while its red and white stripes run vertically.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The flag has fifteen five-sided stars evenly dispersed within the blue rectangle in the top right corner. From top to bottom, the stars' pattern repeats: three stars, then two stars, a total of three times. Running vertically, fifteen alternating red and white stripes complete the rectangular flag. The red stripes frame the left and right of the flag. There are eight red stripes with seven white stripes that alternate in between.

CAPTION: 1795 U.S. Flag

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A faded, full-color vertical illustration.

SYNOPSIS: A bearded man wearing late 18th century work clothes stands at a wooden workbench in a Springfield Armory assembly room. He uses hand tools to assemble a flintlock musket at his station. To the right, a row of several unfinished, wooden rifle stocks stand barrel-up in a rack. To the left, just above the workbench, a paned window lets in sunlight. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The workman has slightly overgrown, light brown hair and a matching beard that together frame his face into an oval. His white, button-up tunic looks worn from his workday, and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. His pants are brown and loose, but taper in below his knees. His shoes are covered by the rifle rack in front of him. 

He holds what appears to be a hand drill in his hands as he works on a rifle at his work station. The rifle is held in a vise, allowing him to work with precision.

CAPTION: Musket Assembly

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A sepia black-and-white photograph.

SYNOPSIS: Thomas Blanchard's original lathe, a replicating machine designed to uniformly cut wood into gun stocks, is photographed in black-and-white. The machine's foundation is a simple rectangular wooden table. Tall wooden support beams, resembling a large picture frame, rise from the tabletop. Inside the frame, interconnected metal parts move together to replicate gun stocks using a stock mold. A wooden barrel, serving as a rotating guide wheel, sits below the table and attaches to the back with iron supports. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The historic photo is cut-out, resting atop the white background of the brochure. It slightly obscures the caption "1800s", written in bold red font.

CAPTION: Blanchard Lathe

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1819 -- Armory employee Thomas Blanchard develops a special lathe for the consistent mass production of rifle stocks. The lathe (pictured) enables an unskilled workman to turn out identical irregular shapes quickly and easily.

DESCRIBING: A full-color horizontal painting.

SYNOPSIS: In this dramatic contemporary picture of the 1824 Armory fire, bright orange flames engulf the red-brick administrative building and stocking shops across Armory Square, viewed from where the Museum now lies. Black smoke billows from the flames, painting the blue sky in a gray haze of fumes. Two single-file lines of Armory employees line the Green, while others are dispersed along the ashen grass, looking quite flustered.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The bottom third of the painting shows a crowd of people, all in dark-colored coats, pants, and dresses, standing along the barren Armory green, which is covered by gray ash. Two single file lines of people run from the front of the green to the right side of the burning building, at the center of the painting. The people in line hold buckets of water, which they pass down the line in attempt to ease the flames. 

The center of the photograph shows the two-story, red-brick administration building being swallowed by flames. On either side, matching red-brick buildings sit in the smoke as their companion burns. 

Above the center building, dark gray smoke pours out, up, and to the right, being swept away by a breeze. Most of the top half of the painting is covered with smoke, with only a peek of blue sky at the top left, revealing the beautiful day that should have been. 

CAPTION: Fires were common until brick replaced wooden buildings. This 1824 print shows the destruction of the Armory stocking shops caused by sparks from forges where iron is shaped and welded.

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A black-and-white portrait.

SYNOPSIS: A young Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, likely in his twenties, faces forward, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned and his gaze distant. He is shown from the chest-up wearing a dark, high-collared ruffled shirt with a sleek white collar underneath, peeking out ever so slightly, just below his chin.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Longfellow's round, light-colored eyes look beyond the observer, off into the distance. With his dark brows furrowed ever so slightly, his contemplative expression reflects his renowned introspective nature. His hair is neatly combed and frames the side of his face, resting just above his jawline. 

The portrait is cut-out, its lightly shadowed edges fading into the white background of the brochure.

CREDIT: Longfellow National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1843 -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow visits the Armory and later writes his anti-war poem "The Arsenal at Springfield." 

"This is the Arsenal.

From floor to ceiling,

Like a huge organ,

rise the burnished arms;

But from their silent pipes

no anthem pealing

Startles the villages

with strange alarms."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1843

DESCRIBING:A full-color vertical photograph.

SYNOPSIS: Named the "Organ of Muskets" for its resemblance to the musical instrument, this three-dimensional, rectangular gun rack holds 1100 muskets at full capacity. The muskets are kept upright and parallel to each other in the double-tiered rack. The guns' steel barrels point towards the ceiling, with their brown stocks and silver barrels blending together seamlessly, creating a bronze glow that emphasizes the structure's resemblance to an organ. The base, midsection, and roof of the gun rack is golden and rectangular and slightly rounded, complimenting the muskets nicely.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The photograph is cut-out, its lightly shadowed edges fading into the white background of the brochure.

CAPTION: Organ of Muskets

CREDIT: Copyright Jim Langone

DESCRIBING: A small, sepia, black-and-white circular emblem.

SYNOPSIS: The City of Springfield's municipal seal sits atop the white background of the brochure. The Springfield Coat of Arms lies inside the circular seal.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The Springfield Coat of Arms, shaped like an intricate antique shield, contains a number of scenes of Springfield's historic buildings. In a small, horizontal oval resting above the shield, the Springfield Armory is featured waving the American flag proudly. Directly below, featured in the top half of the shield, a scene shows a train leaving Springfield's first Union Station. An arrow runs underneath the scene from east to west, separating Union Station from the two scenes below it, which sit next to each other of equal size. On the left, two, small buildings sit on land, next to two steamboats on the Connecticut river. On the right, a three-story building known as "Old Fort" is depicted, surrounded by trees. 

The Springfield Coat of Arms is enclosed in a circle. Between the edge of the circle and the shield, brown parallel lines run horizontally, shading the background that the coat of arms rests on.

A concentric circle, slightly larger in size, encompasses the municipal seal. Within this white circle, "Springfield" is written at the top in large capital brown letters. In slightly smaller size, but of the same font and color, "Organized a Town May 14, 1636, O.S. ** A City May 25, 1852.", is written, taking up the rest of the space inside the circle.

CAPTION: City of Springfield

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1852 -- Springfield, established as a town in 1636, is incorporated as a city. The city recognizes the Armory's importance by including an image of the Main Arsenal at the top of the municipal seal.

DESCRIBING: A sepia black-and-white horizontal photograph from the 1860s, its sides slightly faded.

SYNOPSIS: A Union soldier stands at attention to the left of a dark, statuesque column at Springfield Armory's entrance gate. With his rifle-musket proudly slung over his right shoulder, he fixes his gaze on the distant horizon. The soldier's dark hat and uniform contrast with the pale concrete path he stands on, winding through the grassy slopes of the Armory grounds. In the foreground, the Armory building basks in the sun, framed by leaves of the Black Walnut trees that billow overhead.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: One of Springfield Armory's concrete masonry columns that support its front gate stands tall, pictured here slightly off center, towards the left of the photograph. It sits at the junction of the paved road, on the right, and the concrete pedestrian path, on the left. Scattered along the road, the path, and the grassy grounds beyond them, are fallen leaves from the dispersed trees along the grounds. 

To the viewer's left, a black, male, Union soldier wearing dark boots, pants, hat, and buttoned-up coat stands straight as he fixes his rifle-musket at his right shoulder, holding it by its wooden butt stock in his right hand. His hands are covered by crisp, white gloves, which attract the eye with their sharp contrast from his dark coat sleeves. 

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: Civil War 1861-1865
1860s -- The destruction of the Harper's Ferry Armory during the Civil War leaves Springfield Armory the only federal manufacturing point for small arms until the 1900s. It also attracts skilled workers of diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.

DESCRIBING: A sepia black-and-white horizontal illustration.

SYNOPSIS: An 1884 ink rendering of the Water Shops Armory, which is located about a mile south of the Armory's Hill Shops and Main Arsenal. The illustration shows a two-story building with a tall front clock tower, nearly twice the main building's height, which waves the American flag high and proud from its roof's center. Young trees surround the building's perimeter, located within the 6-foot tall wraparound fence that protects the grounds. A group of five walk along the fence towards its open gate, where a single person stands at its center.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The building's main tower consists of three tiers. The first tier is two stories tall and has a tall, rounded open entrance. Its second tier, which extends above the rest of the building, hosts its circular black clock with white details. Its top tier is smaller and shorter than the rest, adding more height than volume, and hoisting the American flag from its rooftop. 

The rest of the building is long and rectangular, creating two, connected horizontal rectangles on either side of the front tower. Its two stories are highlighted by its numerous oblong windows that mirror each other. Its tall roof is slightly slanted and reaches the center of the main clock at the front tower. 

The building looks very similar to the Main Arsenal at the Armory's Hill Shops, now known simply as Springfield Armory. 

CAPTION: Water Power

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: 1884 -- Here on the Mill River, about a mile south of the Armory's Hill Shops, much of the heavy manufacturing operations of creating rifle stocks and barrels are performed with the help of water power beginning early in the 1800s.

DESCRIBING: A sepia black-and-white square photograph, its sides slightly faded.

SYNOPSIS: An 1886 photograph shows four rows of white men standing for a group portrait, with two elder men sitting in the center of the bottom row. They are wearing dark hats and white aprons and all face the camera for the photo. The men are Stocking Shop workers at the Hill Shops, and each display either the part of a rifle that they work on or the tool that they use to construct the rifle. About 20 men are clearly captured in the photo, while the men on the sides of the photo are only faintly captured, due to a faded finish on the image.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This image will be described from bottom to top and left to right, beginning with the front row of workers, from the viewer's left to right, and ending with the top row of workers, again, from left to right. The men on the sides of the photograph will not be described, as they are only faintly visible. 25 men total are photographed in the image, 19 of which will be described.

The front row shows four men distinctly visible. On the left, a man with a long, salt-and-pepper beard wearing a rounded, wide-brimmed hat poses with his arms slightly bent and held out in front of him. He holds a small, iron tool in his right hand, at his belly button, and a wooden rifle stock in his left hand, resting in the crook of his arm and extending down toward his right knee. To the viewer's right, a man with a white beard, black bowler hat, and black suit and bow tie sits on a stool, facing right. He is the only man photographed without an apron and not meeting the camera's gaze. He holds a long, narrow stick or rod in his right hand, which extends above his head and stops eye-level with the man standing to the left of him. To the right is an empty wooden stool, creating a noticeably unfilled space in the photograph. To the right of the empty stool, another man with a white beard is seated on a stool, facing the camera. He wears a straw boater hat on his head and a gray blazer over his white work apron. In both hands, he holds a wooden rifle stock, its front end facing right. To the right of him, a clean-shaven man wearing a flat cap stands up straight and meets the camera's gaze. He holds a rifle stock vertically in his left hand, the butt stock at his hip and front end by his left ear, facing the sky.

At the second row, five men are clearly visible. The first man, at the far left, has a long, black mustache and wears a flat, wide-brimmed hat on his head. His hands are not visible and he does not display a rifle stock. To the right, a man with sparse, white facial hair and a flat, wide-brimmed hat holds a rifle stock out in front of him with both hands. The stock is held horizontally in front of his waist, its front end facing left. The man to the right, standing at the dead center of the photograph, dons a thick, black beard and a flat cap on his head. He holds an indistinct tool in front of him with both hands. It is about half the length of a rifle stock and much darker in color. To the right, a man with a long, bushy beard wearing a short top hat holds a rifle stock in both hands at his waist. The stock's front end faces right, covering part of the chest of the man standing to the right. This man stands several inches to the right of the man beside him, leaving the a small gap in the photograph between them. He is clean shaven and wears a bowler hat on his head. He holds something in the nook of his left arm, but it can not be made out clearly. 

Five men are clearly photographed in the third row. On the far left, a man with a white beard and a flat, wide-brimmed hat stands up straight, with only his chest and head showing. To his right, a man also shown from the chest up sports a large, black mustache and a flat, wide-brimmed hat on his head. Beside him, a clean-shaven man wearing a flat, wide-brimmed hat holds what appears to be a small iron bar in front of him, near his belly button. To the right, a man with a dark, bushy beard wearing a wide-brimmed hat at the back of his head holds something small and hard to see in his hands, in front of him. There is a gap to his right, large enough for another man to stand in, between him and the man on the far right of row. This man has a large, black mustache and wears a wide brimmed hat at the back of his head. His left arm is bent as he holds a small, black tool in his left hand, in front of his chest. 

In the top row, five men are clearly visible as they stand tall and look straight towards the camera. They are just barely in frame, with the tops of their hats meeting the upper edge of the photo and most of their bodies covered by the men standing in front of them. On the left, a man with a round face and black mustache is seen from the chest up. He wears a flat, wide-brimmed hat and  holds a small, black tool in his left hand, at his chest. To the right, a man with a white beard wears a wide-brimmed hat at the back of his head. He is shown from the chest up, holding what looks like a small, square piece of wood in his left hand, covering his entire chest. Beside him, a man with a dark mustache wearing a flat cap is shown from the chest up. He holds a small black tool about the size and shape of a ruler in his left hand, raising it up to his left shoulder, so that it can be seen by the viewer. To the right, a man who also sports a dark mustache and a flat cap on his head mimics this pose. He raises a similar sized tool in his right hand to his left shoulder. Beside him, a man with a black beard wearing a flat cap holds a square tool in front of him, covering his entire chest. The tool is difficult to discern, looking almost like a small accordion at his chest. 

Together, the group of men make up the entire photograph. They each represent a different part of the rifle stock production process at the Stocking Shop.

CAPTION: Skilled Craftsmen -- This 1886 group portrait shows Stocking Shop workers at the Hill Shops. Each man is dressed in his work outfit and holding the tools and gauges that signify his particular role in producing rifle stocks in a "Division of Labor."

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A black-and-white horizontal photograph, its sides slightly faded.

SYNOPSIS: Apache leader Geronimo is pictured to the right of three fellow Apache warriors as they are forced to surrender to the U.S. Army in 1886. In the unrelenting desert sun, Geronimo stands tall and dignified; he holds an 1873 Trapdoor rifle in both hands and stares defiantly into the camera. All four warriors are shown holding rifles in both hands, aimed to the right, while they stare down the barrel of the camera lens. They share similar looks of deep tanned skin and long black hair, and wear cloth headbands and layered clothing that covers most of their skin.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: From right to left, Geronimo stands several inches taller than the men beside him. He wears a dark cloth headband, embellished with white, trapezoidal details, on his head, just above his ears, keeping his shoulder-length black hair out of his face. A similar fabric is tied around his neck as well, resting on top of a white tunic and beneath an open, hip-length black jacket with two white oval embellishments over each collarbone. At his waist, he wears a thick, black belt over the white tunic, which helps hold up his breechcloth underneath. The breechcloth, likely made from buckskin due to its blanched hue and creased texture, as well as its customary use by Apache peoples, hangs just below his knees in front and slightly longer in the back. He wears dark shoes that reach above his ankles, but are mostly obstructed from view. 

To the left of Geronimo, his fellow warrior wears a light-colored headband over his forehead and long, black hair. A high-neck, long-sleeved white tunic reaches his hips, covering his torso and arms. Over top he wears a black waist-length vest, a black belt at his hips, several beaded necklaces around his neck, and metal bracelets on his right wrist. Beneath his belt is a white loincloth covering his upper thighs, with additional fabric at each side, extending down to his knees. Just below his knees are dark boots, partially obscured by the image's caption. 

The warrior on his left wears similar clothes. A dark headband covers his forehead and his long, black hair hangs loose behind his shoulders. He, too, wears a long white tunic; over which he wears a black necktie, open waist-length black vest, and a bandolier belt, filled with bullets, around his waist. He wears a similar, white loincloth to the warrior to his right, underneath which he wears fair buckskin pants, which are tucked into his knee-high boots. 

The warrior on the far left also wears a black bandana on his forehead, over his long dark hair that reaches below his chest. He wears a long, light-colored, patterned tunic that reach his hips, over which he carries his bandolier like a belt at his waist. He, too, wears fair buckskin pants and similar-style loincloth over top, though it appears to be made of slightly darker buckskin. His shoes are not visible in the photo. 

In the background of the photo is a desert landscape. There are several shrubs, grasses, and desert plants behind the four warriors, which extend to the horizon. Above the flat horizon, at the top of the photo, is a pale sky that fades into the white background of the brochure.

The image is captioned, "Geronimo (far right) with 1873 "Trapdoor"", in bold black font, placed at the bottom of the image, over the boots of the three men on the right, partially obstructing them from view. 

CAPTION: Geronimo (far right) with 1873 "Trapdoor"

CREDIT: Arizona Historical Society

RELATED TEXT: 1886 -- Apache leader Geronimo surrenders to the U.S. Army, ending the Apache Wars. One of Geronimo's favorite weapons was the Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield, produced at the Armory and widely used by the U.S. Army from the Indian wars era to the Battle of San Juan Hill in 1898. Gen. George Armstrong Custer's troopers carried them into battle against the Lakota and Northern Cheyenne at the Little Bighorn in June 1876.

DESCRIBING: Part of a faded black-and-white photograph; used as a background image.

SYNOPSIS: Springfield Armory's Crest and banner decorate the exterior of its main gate. These raised metal engravings embellish a concrete masonry column anchoring the wrought iron gate, to its right, connected by iron hinges. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: On the left side of the image, Springfield Armory's concrete gatepost faintly emerges. Its light gray exterior is decorated with an embossed metal banner, labelled, "Springfield Armory, U.S.A.", which sits a few inches above the Armory's crest, in the center of the gatepost. The banner is arched slightly, mirroring the round arc of the circular crest below it. It spans slightly wider than Springfield Armory's crest, and resembles a ribbon banner; its ends carved out in a V-shaped trim, with ripples of convex waves decorating it, like a flag flying in the breeze.

Below, the Armory's intricate crest is centrally located. The crest is composed of three metal pieces placed among a hollow central circle, resembling a ring, with indistinct lettering written along the circle's interior. Behind the circle lie interlocking cannons, which form a sturdy "X" shape. Balanced upon the intersection of the two stocks, just below the top arc of the circle, is a small, raised circle, representing a bomb. Lastly, above the central circle, at its peak, is a small flame, just barely larger than the circle bomb, lighting it ablaze.

The banner and crest are a few shades lighter than the concrete column they protrude from, scarcely contrasting with their background, making their features difficult to discern.

Attached at the column's hinges on the top right, a dark iron gate with ornamental cut-outs gives a vague glimpse at the hazy Armory grounds in the distance.

Other images from the brochure partially obstruct this background image, covering parts of the banner, crest, and column. 

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A full-color vertical photograph.

SYNOPSIS: An 1895 poster advertising the Springfield Bicycle Club. The long vertical poster consists of black and red details on a beige background. 

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The center of the poster features an outline of three bicyclists in a bright red color. The image is placed over a black rectangle with cut-outs of wings over a banner in a repeating pattern, showcasing the poster's beige background. 

Above the central image, "Springfield Bicycle Club Tournament" is written in bold, capital letters, each letter black except for the first letter of each word, with the exception of "Tournament", which is entirely red. The first two words are in one row while the second two words are directly underneath in a separate row. The beige background of the poster highlights the words.

Below the central image of the poster, "Springfield Mass Sept. 11 and 12, 1895" is written in bold, capital letters. Similarly to the words on the top of the flyer,  the first two words are in one row, each letter black except for the first letter of each word, which is red. The second row is directly underneath the first, with "Sept. 11" "12, 1895" written in red, while their separator, "and" is written in black. The beige background of the poster highlights the words.

A black, rectangular outline is placed over the beige background, framing the words and image in the poster.

CAPTION: By 1895 the bicycle is very popular for people of all ages, and Springfield holds annual bicycle tournaments. "Springfield is truly a town of cyclists," says the New York Times about the 1895 rally, "and women and children are as common on the spidery vehicle as pedestrians on the Brooklyn Bridge."

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING: A black-and-white horizontal photograph with a white rectangular border.

SYNOPSIS: A residential Springfield street is lined with large trees, grand houses, and a black, old-fashioned car parked along the curb, to the viewer's left. Visible streetcar tracks on the road cross each other, giving the sense of a quaint urban community made up of workers commuting together to reach their workplace: the Armory.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In the center of one of Springfield's many wide, residential streets is an interlaced streetcar track in the shape of two, overlapping champagne glasses. This interlaced, double-gauntlet track consists of two separate tracks. Each track has two parallel rails that diverge to form a rounded Y-shape. The rounded Y shapes, which resemble champagne glasses, overlap in the center of the street and eventually straighten out, creating four parallel, equidistant rails. 

On either side of the tracks, there is enough space in the street to park cars alongside the curb. One car is parked on the front left, facing the camera. The photographed classic black car has a flat roof, small rectangular front windshield, two circular headlights, a low, metal bumper, and curved sides following the shape of the wheels. 

To the left of the car, grass grows along the sidewalk, where several trees are planted in line. This is mirrored on the other side of the street, where the right-hand sidewalk fills the top right of the photo. Here, someone wearing a long coat is photographed taking a stroll along the curb, their back to the camera. 

In the top left corner of the photograph and along the center of the background, partly covered by trees, are several, large, light-colored houses with multiple stories. 

CAPTION: Workers' Homes

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

RELATED TEXT: The Armory's comparably higher wages for workers help Springfield become known as the "City of Homes" in the late 1800's. The nickname arose because of the city's many Victorian mansions, as well as multitudes of workers' single family homes.

DESCRIBING:  A black-and-white square photograph, its sides slightly faded.

SYNOPSIS: James Stowe, the first African American hired by the Armory, is photographed in the driver's seat of an old-fashioned, electric delivery truck in front of the Water Shops. Stowe poses facing the camera; he looks smart with his hands neatly in his lap, wearing a nice cap and neat jacket, sweater, and slacks.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The delivery truck rests upon large, spoked wheels; its open cargo area covered by a canopy connected with four side rails. The side of its dark, metal cargo area reads "U.S. Armory" in capital white letters. Its four large wheels look white in the lighting of the photo. 

In the image's background, a Springfield building can faintly be made out, with a few dark windows and doorways contrasting from the overexposed, white exterior walls. 

CAPTION: 1905 -- James Stowe is the first African American hired by the Armory. Employed at the Water Shops, he is seen here operating one of the Armory's electric delivery trucks.

CREDIT: NPS / Springfield Armory National Historic Site

DESCRIBING:  A full-color square photograph. 

SYNOPSIS: Two U.S. army soldiers wearing Army Combat Uniforms and wielding automatic rifles stand shoulder-to-shoulder as they lean against the military vehicle behind them. In the desert heat they tilt their heads down slightly and to the right, avoiding the harsh gaze of the intense sun from above.

IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The two soldiers wear pixelated tan, gray and green camouflage pattern Army Combat Uniforms and are equipped with body armor, strapped helmets, dark protective eyewear, black leg holsters which contain extra ammunition magazines, and automatic rifles. They lean against the desert-tan-colored, up-armored military vehicle behind them as the bright sun beams down on them from the left.

The image is overlayed with white text that reads: "Operation Iraqi Freedom: The soldier on the left holds an M14-based M21 SWS and the other holds an M4 Carbine.", placed on the bottom of the image, over both soldiers' knees. The M21 Sniper Weapon System is a bolt-action long-gun rifle used by American military snipers. It is camouflage tan and brown in color, and nearly reaches the soldier's shoulders in height. The M-4 Carbine rifle is a variation of the M-16 assault rifle, with a shorter butt stock and a shorter barrel. The M-4 is all black and much shorter, but bulkier, than the M21 to its left. 

CAPTION: Operation Iraqi Freedom -- The soldier on the left holds an M14-based M21 SWS, and the other holds an M4 Carbine.

CREDIT: Copyright Joseph Higgins