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Welcome to the audio-described tour of the wayside signs around Springfield Armory National Historic Site.
These 15 signs described in this tour can be found outdoors, throughout the grounds, and they have been geolocated for you, meaning that if you have The UniDescription mobile app open while you are walking around, those descriptions will be brought to your phone when you are near one.
The signs typically have a black metal frame around them, which connects to a black metal base.
The signs themselves usually offer a mix of text, photos, and graphics about the history of the place, based on the location where the sign has been installed.
This audio-described tour was written by staff members at Sea Reach, LTD, in Sheridan, Oregon, in 2017, and migrated into the UniDescription app in April 2026 by Access Hound (www.AccessHound.com), as a way to make the descriptions more accessible for everyone.
Springfield Armory National Historic Site offers many ways for people who are blind or who have low-vision to participate fully in the site's activities, including a collection of audio-described media, such as this wayside tour. Other options on this UniD app include an hour-long audio-described brochure, a self-walking tour, a museum map, and a park handout.
The text on the panel reads:
In 1795, Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the United States Military, on a site where General George Washington authorized weapons to be stored during the Revolutionary War. Within decades, Springfield Armory became the nation's primary armory, and manufacturing methods that were critical to the development of American industry were perfected here.
After nearly two centuries producing muskets and rifles for America's armed forces, the armory closed its gates in 1968. The site reopened in 1978 as the Springfield Armory National Historic Site and features the world's largest collection of historic American military firearms.
Today, the National Park Service and Springfield Technical Community College jointly manage the grounds, now a lively urban park and community resource.
The panel background is a sepia-tinged photograph of the interior of an Armory workshop. The room is filled with different types of machine tools, all powered by long belts that hang from the ceiling. An older man in a long trench coat and hat looks over three men working at their machines. The man in the foreground of the photograph is wearing a long bib and is performing delicate work on a lathe.
The caption reads: “For nearly two centuries, the Springfield Armory buzzed with workers producing arms for the United States.”
On the upper left of the panel is an image of a large, double-stacked rack holding a large quantity of muskets arranged in a cube. The curved wooden top and bottom of the rack is a light, honey brown color while the stocks of the muskets range from a dark chocolate to an ochre color.
The caption reads: In the museum, marvel at the “Organ of Muskets.” This double rack was one of many built in the 1830s to hold about 1,100 manufactured rifle muskets.
In the middle of the panel is a small square photograph showing men and women swing dancing. They are all dressed in WWII-period military uniforms. They are in front of the Main Arsenal. The caption reads: Take part in a special event at this vibrant park that serves the community.
A photo on the right side of the panel shows a park ranger giving a presentation to several school-aged children. They are located inside the visitor center and the ranger is holding a musket. On the left, a student reads from a piece of paper while on the right a boy inspects the weapon. In the background, exhibit cases and the large lathe designed by Thomas Blanchard. The caption reads: School groups are welcome at Springfield Armory. A variety of programs and teacher resources help connect students and visitors with the history of innovation at this national historic site.
As you face these three panels, the large brick Main Arsenal building, which houses the visitor center, is to your right. Directly behind you is Armory Square road. Past the road and to your right is the Armory Square, a large greenspace with a lawn and trees. Historic armory buildings and newer Springfield Technical Community College buildings form a perimeter around the Square. To your left, about 500 feet away, is State Street.
The text on the panel reads: History and innovation coexist at the Springfield Armory National Historic site and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). The armory complex now houses both the historic site and the thriving campus as part of an unusual partnership. The National Park Service co-manages the site with STCC, and the property is co-owned by the federal government and the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Explore the historic buildings and grounds to find out more about the legacy and importance of this unique location.
The main image on this panel is a map of the historic armory grounds. It is oriented with west at the top of the panel. The map is bounded by Byers Street on the west, Pearl Street to the north, Federal Street to the east, and State Street to the south. An arrow indicates that the Watershops are to the southeast, down Walnut Street.
On the map, a mark denotes your location, with the Springfield Armory National Historic Site buildings indicated with green labels. They are the Springfield Armory National Historic Site Visitor Center and Commanding Officer’s Quarters, which are both to your right.
Also labeled on the map are the Springfield Technical Community College sites, each with a red dot with a corresponding white number. Not all buildings are labeled, thus some numbers are missing and also not all numbers were assigned. Labeled on the map are the following:
2: Scibelli Hall
7: Grants and Development
8: Facilities Department
9: Campus Police
11: WMass Municipal Police Training Academy
12: Parking and Transportation
13: Deliso Hall
14: Armory Square Day Car and Graphic Arts Technology
15: Garvey Hall South
16: Garvey Hall
17: Putnam Hall
19: Future Student Center
20: Health Sciences Building
21: Landscape Department/Greenhouse
25: Automotive Technology
27: Library and Student Services
28: Fine Arts Building
32: Energy Systems Technology
35: Civil Engineering/Landscape Labs
A background image at the bottom of the map is a green two-toned painting of the armory grounds. The Main Arsenal is located in the foreground, with a large flag of the United State flying high overhead. Behind the building is Armory Square with the rest of the buildings arranged neatly around the square. The caption reads:
The historic armory buildings provide a dramatic setting for this site’s many functions.
The text on the panel reads: The armory legacy of innovation lives on at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). Founded in 1967 just before the armory closed down, STCC is located on 35 acres of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Now STCC is a major resource for the economic vitality of Western Massachusetts.
As the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of career programs unequalled in the state. STCC's transfer programs in Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts, Science and Technology continue to provide the most economical option for students pursuing a four-year degree. Honored as one of the ten most beautiful Community Colleges in America, SYCC is a vibrant campus rich in diversity. Lean more at www.stcc.edu.
The background image features a contemporary photograph of four students wearing casual attire sitting on grass in front of the Main Arsenal. They are surrounded with backpacks and several have open books on their laps. The caption reads:
The historic armory buildings make for a unique campus experience.
In the middle of the panel are three inset photographs. The left one features a male student in a white lab coat sitting at a desk. A microscope sits beside him and a computer monitor shows the magnified image on a screen. The caption reads: “STCC prides itself on being the best educational institution in the region at preparing students for careers.“
The middle photograph contains three smiling individuals wearing graduation robes and hats. In addition to the robes and hat, the woman on the left is wearing a yellow sash with a blue ribbon. The caption reads: “Since its founding in 1967, STCC has inspired more than 36,000 alumni.”
The image on the right is a black and white photograph of a man. He has a close-cropped hairstyle and thick rimmed glasses. He is wearing a suit jacket and tie. The caption reads: Dr. Edmond P. Garvey, the principal of Trade High School and founding president of STCC, envisioned that the armory grounds should become a technical college.
The text on the panel reads: “The massive cast-iron fence in front of you encircles the armory property. Construction began on the fence in 1852 during a time of conflict between armory leadership and the surrounding townspeople. Armory Commanding Officer James Wolfe Ripley removed local workers from their positions, replacing them with immigrant Irish-Catholics. This antagonized the townspeople, who threatened the workers and the property.
In response, Ripley asked Congress for permission to build the barrier “to keep the rabble out.” It took nine years to complete the mile-long fence. Ripley saved money on the project by melting down obsolete artillery and cannon parts, some from the American Revolution, to make the cast iron.
A large background photo provides a view into the armory grounds from the southwest. In the foreground, the cast iron fence and gate loom large. The fence and gate are made up of evenly spaced balusters supported by thick concrete columns. The top of each baluster has a decorative trident, giving the impression that the fence is made up of thousands of spears. A guard stands in the middle of the pedestrian entrance, hands clasped behind him. In the distance, the Main Arsenal sits upon the elevated plateau. The caption reads:
The drive entering the armory from State and Byers streets is a pedestrian pathway today.
An inset photograph on the right of the panel shows a guard standing near the gate. He is dressed in light-colored clothing and hat with his rifle shouldered. Behind him, the fence and gate columns can be seen. Sitting atop the column is a wrought iron light fixture. The caption reads: A guard stands watch be the Springfield Armory gate c. 1900.
As you face this panel, you are just inside the gates of the Armory. Behind you lie the Armory’s richly detailed cast-iron gates and fence. To your left, a squat brick guardhouse with a small chimney sits at one corner of the Armory grounds. To your left and stretching out ahead of you the cast-iron fence follows Byers Street as it moves from southwest to northwest. Large hardwood trees grace the armory grounds as the terrain rises to your right.
The text on the panel reads, “In 1845, commanding Officer James W. Ripley and his family moved into a new residence, the large brick home you see in front of you. In addition to serving as the Armory leaders' residence, the home included servants and housekeepers for much of its existence.
Ripley's opponents labeled his new residence a 'magnificent mansion." As controversy grew, numerous investigations and ultimately a military court of inquiry scrutinized Ripley. Among the charges were extravagance and waste of government funds in the construction of the residence, but ultimately Ripley was cleared.
Throughout his term as commanding officer, Ripley stoked controversy with his uncompromising decisions, and building this elaborate home was no exception.
The panel background has a sweeping shot of the commanding officer’s quarters taken from one of the upper stories of the Main Arsenal. Tall broadleaf trees stand around the large two-story brick home. This elevated perspective allows the viewer to see some of the main architectural features of the home, including the white columned porches that shroud the home on the ground floor. A series of chimneys and a small windowed room protrude from the roof of the main building. To the right, a second photograph merges with the main photograph to the left. It centers on two individuals seated on a bench outside of the house, near the garden.
The caption reads: The grounds and gardens of the armory served as a gathering place for the community. That tradition continues today.
The top left corner of the panel has a black and white photograph of the home’s interior. It shows a stately parlor room. A chandelier hangs from the center of the room. Below it, a large Persian style area rug covers the floor. A fireplace is located along one wall while chairs are arranged around the room’s perimeter. An entryway leads into another room, similarly decorated. The caption reads:
The home’s large size allowed for two drawing rooms or parlors where armory leaders could entertain important visitors to the armory.
In the upper middle of the panel, another photograph shows a group of three people posing for a photograph. They are standing on the main staircase leading up to the house. They are flanked by flowing plants growing next to the staircase. An older woman is on the highest step, while a woman and a man in uniform occupy the next step down. They are looking off to the photograph’s left and the woman on the top step has her hands on both of them. The caption reads: “For nearly 170 years, the house served as the residence of 34 commanding officers and superintendents and their families. Pictured here is Colonel Hoffer and family mid-1919.”
As you face this panel, the officer’s quarters is in front of you and to your left. White cast iron rails surround the porch and hold up its roof. A small strip of grass and low lying bushes — removed to better reflect the period of interpretation – border the house. Each brick story is interspersed with identical hung sash windows save for one curious oval shaped window, located on near a door on the building’s south wing. To your left, a circular drive surrounds a large maple tree. If you follow the circular drive to your left, you will arrive at the next exhibit. To your right and behind you lies the Main Arsenal.
The text on the panel reads: “The massive building ahead served as Springfield Armory’s Main Arsenal, a storage facility for the weapons manufactured here. Constructed between 1847 and 1850 during the term of Commanding Officer James W. Ripley, the building dominated the site and quickly became the armory’s symbol. In fact, the building became so iconic that Springfield integrated it into the city seal when it became a city in 1852.
You can explore the interior of the Main Arsenal building, which now houses a museum featuring the world’s largest collection of American military firearms. The museum’s collection began as a technical reference library for armory workers and engineers.”
The panel background features a rich color illustration of Armory Square and the Main Arsenal. A cannon mounted on a carriage sits in the foreground of the image while three individuals gather in a semi-circle. Large deciduous trees that have begun to sprout their spring leaves are spaced throughout the square while the Flag of the United States flies atop the Main Arsenal building.
The caption reads: The Main Arsenal remains Armory Square’s largest and most memorable building.
The upper right portion of the panel features a black and white photograph showing a large room with tall, skinny support columns holding up the ceiling. The room is full of hundreds of small boxes. The caption reads: This building served as the main storage area for the weapons produced here at Springfield Armory.
The lower right panel contains a color photograph of the interior of the visitor center. Large exhibits extend from the floor to the ceiling and have life-size images on them. A mannequin, all in white, holding a real rifle, is enclosed in an exhibit case. The caption reads: “Today, the Main Arsenal building serves as a visitor center for the historic site.”
As you face this panel, the Main Arsenal is to your left. The iconic three story brick building has a large tower that extends well above the roofline. Behind you is a parking lot and Armory Square. Immediately to your right is a pathway that takes you to the next interpretive exhibit, about 300 feet ahead on the path.
The text on this panel reads, “The park-like setting you see before you is intentional. Superintendent James W. Ripley (1841-1854) reimagined operations at the Springfield Armory, down to the landscaping of the grounds, in his drive to create a “Grand National Armory.”
After the Armory acquired several parcels of land along this hillside in the 1840s, Ripley cleared them of buildings to make room for a manicured landscape of orderly trees and pathways.
Elsewhere, workers planted decorative shrubs and ornamental gardens. These physical changes to the land, in addition to the construction of neatly laid out and imposing buildings, reinforced the order and precision essential to the production of weapons in the industrial age.”
The panel background has a colored sketch of the Armory grounds as they appeared in 1864. In the distance, smoke billows from three of Armory’s buildings. One large flag of the U.S. flies above the Main Arsenal while another flies in the center green of Armory Square. Large trees are scattered around the Armory Grounds and line the fence separating the Armory from the street and sidewalk. Individuals are seen walking on the sidewalk outside of the Armory while horses and buggies move up and down State Street. Two guards stand watch while a cart filled with supplies is inspected.
A black and white photo of downtown Springfield, with three church spires visible, is located on the right of the panel. A caption reads: “ The same “charming vistas in every direction” that moved a reporter from 1852 still impress today. Many buildings from that era—including many churches—still dominate Springfield’s skyline. This photo was taken from atop the Main Arsenal, about 1870.”
As you face this panel, the visitor center is behind you and to your left. A driveway that connects to the Officer’s Quarters to the main Armory road is directly behind you and runs to your left. In front of you lies a grass lawn with tall trees in several stands. In the distance, the city of Springfield is stretched out along the Connecticut River.
The text on the panel reads, “During the 19th century, the Master Armorer played one of the most important roles at the Springfield Armory. He oversaw quality control measures and implemented innovative manufacturing techniques needed for the mass production of standardized weapons. Three Master Armorers stand out for their unique contributions to the Armory.”
Next to the text, a quote reads:
“A Master Armorer should not only be a good mechanic but intelligent, inflexible, possessed of independence of mind, of reputable character and dignified department of strict integrity scrupulously faithful to the trust imposed on him…” — Roswell Lee, Superintendent, 1815-1833
The panel background contains a color photo of a large, two-tiered gun rack arranged in a cube, with hundreds of rifles lining its two levels. The rifles are arranged vertically, with each gun’s metal barrel polished to a shine. At the bottom of the background photo is a caption that reads:
The drive to mass produce weapons with interchangeable parts culminated during the height of the Civil War, when the Armory – using standards and practices laid out by Master Armorers — produced about 1,100 finished weapons a day.
A black and white photo is inset on the right side of the panel. It shows the Master Armorer’s building as it appeared in the late 19th century. The two-story building has four windows with shutters and two chimneys. Large trees without their leaves are next to the house. A street lamp is in the foreground. The caption for this photo reads: “Master Armorers and their families lived in this building from 1833-1890s. This building was moved in 1880 and is now located to your left.”
Below the photograph of the Master Armorers quarters are three black and white images — one engraving and two photographs — of three Master Armorers. Each man is wearing a dark suit while the third has a bowler hat and is holding a rifle. Each image contains a caption for each man. The first caption reads:
Thomas Warner 1837-1842: Warner implemented the process of interchangeable manufacture at Springfield Armory. He oversaw the development of new machinery and instituted new procedures that laid the groundwork for precision production in the future.
The second caption reads:
Erskine S. Allin 1848-1879: Allin spearheaded the Armory’s effort during the Civil War. Later, he designed a system to convert muzzle-loaders into quicker breech-loading rifles through an ingenious addition of a “trap door.”
The final caption reads: Samuel W. Porter 1879-1894: The last Master Armorer, Porter supervised the design of weapons that could take advantage of smokeless powder, a powerful propellant that changed the face of warfare forever.
Along the bottom of the panel are the names of 10 master armorers and the years that they served in that role. Above each name are photos or drawings of each master armorer’s acceptance marks that are engraved into wood or are shown against a brown backdrop. The caption reads:
Master Armorers were responsible for final inspection and approval of every single piece produced by the Armory. The images to the right show final acceptance marks.
As you face this panel, the former Master Armorer’s Quarters is 45 degrees to your left, across the paved parking lot. The building is arranged with the larger three-story wing further away from you and a smaller, two-story wing closer to you. Along the far side of the Master Armorer’s quarters, a white, two-story deck extends from the building.
Directly in front of you, across the parking lot, is the Long Storehouse. To your right and behind you are several Springfield Technical Community College buildings.
The text on the panel reads: For well over a century, large stacks of black walnut were stockpiled to air dry in the cavernous Long Storehouse. This wood was used as gunstocks throughout Springfield Armory’s history, from the earliest flintlocks in 1795 to the M14 rifle in the 1960s.
The Army set strict guidelines to ensure that only the best wood was used in the Armory’s weapons. Workers actively managed the supply in the 798-foot-long building to ensure that only fully “seasoned” wood would be shaped into gunstocks on the Armory’s lathes.
The panel background is a black and white photograph of inside the Long Storehouse. Stacks of lumber are neatly arranged in tall columns, extending from the floor to the ceiling. A long a corridor, flanked by the stacks of wood blanks, is illuminated by a series of overhead lights. A man halfway down the corridor is seen holding a light. He looks small compared to the towering stack of wood blanks next to him.
On the right side of the background photograph, one section of the wood blank tower has a red outline on it. A color graphic of a wood blank is laid over top of the background photograph. On it, a shape of a rifle stock can be seen. A caption below this reads:
Wood blanks had to be seasoned so they would not warp or crack when worked. It took anywhere from two to eight years to season the black walnut.
Along the bottom of the panel is a line drawing of the Long Storehouse. The drawing shows the lengthy building's 41 arched doorways and windows. On the roof there are two housing units for elevators that extend above the roofline. Above the drawing is a caption that reads:
Over the years, sections of the Long Storehouse were put to other uses.
Three pictures and a graphic above the drawing of the Long Storehouse depict some of these uses. On the left, a man in a white lab coat operates an x-ray machine. It has a caption that reads:
1964-1968: X-ray lab to inspect weapons for microscopic defects
To the right, is a color photo of two men and three women sitting with their legs crossed on a low brick wall. Each wears a maroon Springfield Technical Community College shirt. The caption reads:
Today: STCC’s Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons
A circular red stamp graphic is in the middle of the panel with the words TOP SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL in capital letters prominently displayed.
A caption reads:
1960-1968: cryptography unit sent and received coded messages
Finally, above the right side of the Long Storehouse drawing, a black and white photograph shows the Long Storehouse with a line of carts pulled by horses in front of it. Workers are seen in the windows and beside the building.
A caption reads:
1840s-1918 : stables for the Armory’s work horses
As you face this panel, several Springfield Technical Community College buildings are behind you. In front of you, the Long Storehouse—now called the Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons—fills the view, with it extending to both the right and the left for hundreds of feet. [need new photo of site]
To reach the next sign, turn 120 degrees to your right and walk about 100 feet, crossing the parking lot to reach the kiosk.
The text on this panel reads: ”For 200 years, the buildings in front of you have held “people of power.” Commanding officers, leading engineers, chaplains, and college presidents have all had their offices here.”
No other person of power is more identified with the Springfield Armory than John Garand, an immigrant from Quebec. A brilliant engineer, Garand developed a flair for solving problems with clever design.
Garand had his model shop here, below the Armory’s famed collection of small arms, where he developed some of the earliest designs for what would become the gas-operated M1 semi-automatic rifle, which saw widespread adoption by US forces in World War II.
The panel background has a large black and white photograph along the right side of the panel of John Garand at work. He is using calipers to measure a piece of metal that is set on a machine tool. Garand is wearing a dark vest over a shirt and tie, with his sleeves rolled up.
In the middle of the panel are two images of blueprints depicting technical drawings of the M1 rifle. Next to the blueprints is a color photograph of the M1 rifle. A caption reads:
A student of history, General George Patton remarked that the M1, with its substantial firepower and ease of production in large numbers, was “The greatest battle implement ever devised.”
The bottom left corner of the panel has a black and white photograph of a woman sitting at a desk in a room full of computer equipment. Buttons, lights, and reels with paper and magnetic tape can be seen on the computer. One mainframe has a General Electric brand name prominently displayed. The photograph's caption reads:
Buildings 15 and 16 have grown over time. They have been added on to, combined, and a third level created to accommodate even more space. Primarily used as administrative offices, they were put to use as storage or manufacturing centers as needed. Building 15 also housed the Armory’s first computer, which was used to organize and call up thousands of files and blueprints.
As you face this panel, building 16—also known as Garvey Hall—is in front of you. Three stories tall, it is made from brick, with a long and narrow shape. A square tower in the middle of the building contains an entrance to the building. To your right, about 100 feet away, is building 15, which is connected to building 16 at a right angle. Behind you is Armory Square, a large central green space that has trees and pathways. Beyond Armory Square is the Main Arsenal, home of the Armory Museum.
To reach the next sign, walk 90 feet to your right along the pathway.
The text on the panel reads:
The Springfield Armory cultivated innovation from many sources, friend and foe alike. Guns from all over the world filled its legendary museum to inspire Armory workers to create new designs and perfect or improve old ones. Throughout the Armory’s history, its experts took apart, analyzed, and tested foreign weapons, some hastily brought back from recent battlefields.
The very first musket made at Springfield Armory in 1795 was an exact copy of the French “Charleville” musket used by American rebels in the Revolution. Experience in the Spanish-American War brought the Spanish Mauser rifle to Springfield, where its most redeeming features were integrated into the Model 1903 rifle a short time later.
During and after World War II, captured German scientists provided knowledge that influenced US weapon design until the closure of the Armory.
The panel background is a black and white photograph, depicting six men in an office setting. Large sheets of paper, technical drawings, and telephones are covering the four rows of desks. In the foreground is a machine gun resting on top of a tripod. Added above the photograph are two color photographs of two weapons:
The caption reads:
“Two different types of German machine guns—the German MG42 (far left) and the FG42 (left)—were literally welded together in what would become an early prototype for the US M60 Machine Gun (below). The M60 is still used today.”
On the right side of the panel are two pairs of weapons. On the top right, a French Model 1763/68 “Charleville” musket is paired with a US Model 1795 Flintlock Musket. The two muskets look nearly identical, with the US Model 1795 being slightly longer and having different hardware to mount a sling.
Below the muskets are two rifles: a Spanish Model 1893 Mauser Rifle and a US Model 1903. These weapons also look similar, with the US Model 1903 having a thicker stock and forearm and having a down-turned bolt handle.
The caption for these pairs reads:
Throughout its history, weapons designed and built at the Armory often tweaked (or outright copied) other weapons. For example, due to similarities in the design of the US Model 1903 rifle and the 1893 Spanish Mauser, the US Government ultimately paid the German manufacturer $200,000. A few years later, US Doughboys arriving in Europe with their Mauser-inspired Model 1903s squared off against German Mauser rifles in World War I.
In the bottom right corner of the panel has a black and white photograph of four men. One of the men is pointing a rifle to the right. The caption reads:
Caption 3: The building in front of you is the oldest Armory building still standing. Built in 1810, it stored muskets, bayonets, and supplies. This building later became a manufacturing space, barracks, and officer’s club. After World War II, captured German scientist Otto von Lossnitzer lived here (above, second from right) and helped Armory engineers integrate German weapon ideas into US designs.
As you face this panel, building 13 is in front of you. Although smaller in size compared to other buildings nearby, its brick construction matches the other buildings around Armory Square. A white wood entryway is flanked by two white columns. Behind you is Armory Square. To your right are other historic armory buildings, including the Main Arsenal at the southern end of the square. To reach the next sign, continue down the pathway to your right about 300 feet.
The text on this panel reads:
Although the Springfield Armory buzzed with military and industrial activity, it was also home. Men, women, and children lived at the Armory from its inception. Junior officers and their families lived in the building in front of you from its construction in 1870 until the Armory closed in 1968.
For children, growing up at the Armory was much like any other place—filled with routine events such as school, chores, playing, and meals. There were, however, some distinct experiences that came with living at an active armory: a swimming pool, an ice skating rink, a rose garden, use of the guardhouse as a playhouse, and nightly cannon firings.
The background of the panel is a colorized photograph. It features two girls on tricycles riding along one of Armory Square's long paved sidewalks. In the distance, brick armory buildings can be seen.
On the upper right corner of the panel, a color photograph from a raised position shows the Junior Officers Quarters after extensive restorations. The building contains prominent Second Empire architectural features, including dormers protruding from the flat-topped, gambrel roof, and large bay windows on the first two floors. A stately white front porch sweeps across the ground entrance of the building. A caption underneath this photograph reads:
The National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Springfield Technical Community College have come together to preserve the historic Armory buildings. In addition to preservation, many of the restored buildings will find new life.
The left side of the panel has two black and white photographs. One photograph has a man in a military uniform posing next to a woman and young girl, both in dresses. Another photograph shows the same girl—now older—dressed as a ballerina, posing with her tutu outstretched. Below, a caption reads:
Marjorie Stone (in above photos) and her family pose for a photo in 1938, when her father was a Lieutenant and stationed at the Armory as the adjutant and aide-de-camp to the Commanding General.”
Below the photos on the left is a quote from Patricia Ziemba, who grew up at on the Armory. It reads:
“In addition to the swimming pool and skating pond, there were two tennis courts, a basketball court, billiard table, Officers Club for weekly parties, vegetable gardens, fruit tree orchards, flower greenhouses to supply CO with fresh flowers every week and a Rose Garden. The Armory was a ‘Garden of Eden’ for the people who lived there. It was so safe that the children could pitch tents in the parade grounds for summer ‘camping.”
On the bottom left of the panel are two more historic photographs. In one of them, three small children are hugging. They are all wearing coats and hats while one girl holds a bag. To the right of this photograph is another of three individuals standing in front of an automobile. Two adults, a man and a woman, and a girl smile for the camera. Below these photos, a caption reads:
(left) Patricia Ziemba with two other Armory children wait for a ride to school. (right) Patricia Ziemba with family in front of their 1954 DeSoto on Armory grounds. (background) Patricia Ziemba and Nancy Stone.
As you face this panel, the Junior Officers Quarters is directly in front of you. The building’s first two stories are built from a bright red brick. A large white bay window extends out from the first floor. The third floor has dormer windows built into the roof structure.
To your left is a pathway that skirts around the rectangular perimeter of the Armory Square. To your right, the pathway continues around Armory Square before ending at Armory Square Road. One hundred and twenty degrees to your right is the Main Arsenal building, where the museum is located.
The text on this panel reads:
Several of Springfield Armory’s Commanding Officers, notably Roswell Lee and James W. Ripley, were inspired by a vision of a “Grand National Armory.” They saw the Armory as not only a place to manufacture weapons, but also a symbol of the growing power and dignity of the national government. They set their ideas into motion by creating large, impressive buildings. First built from wood and later brick, the Armory’s stately buildings were arranged to create an impression of order and uniformity.
The panel background is a landscape painting of the Armory grounds in 1864. Buildings line Armory Square, with the Main Arsenal in the foreground and the Administration Building lined up directly behind it in the far background. To the left of the painting is the Long Storehouse, while trees and small buildings extend off into the painting's horizon. Dominating the center of the painting is a large American Flag flapping in the wind, located on top of the Main Arsenal's central rectangular tower. Five figures are walking in the center of the Armory Green while horses and their riders are seen along the road behind the Main Arsenal.
In the top right of the panel there is an inset image. It is a historic illustration depicting flames engulfing an armory building on the Armory Green. In the image, the flames reach high into the sky, with the second floor entirely ablaze. Two long lines of people have formed a “bucket brigade,” with each person passing a bucket to the next in line. Other individuals are scattered along the green, some running to help while others simply watch. A caption reads:
In 1824, several buildings went up in flames. Structures built after the fire favored brick to reduce the risk of fires and contribute to a sense of grandeur compatible with the idea of a Grand National Armory. Look across Armory Square to find the Administration Building (Garvey Hall) shown in these two illustrations.
As you face this panel, the Main Arsenal is behind you. In front of you lies the Armory Green, with buildings lining the square. A gravel pathway with rows of large trees along either side can take you into the center of the Green.
The text on this panel reads:
“As placid as the waters might seem today, for decades the rattling of a machine gun or the whir of a helicopter rang out with regularity. From World War II to 1968, Quabbin Reservoir served as a weapons demonstration and testing site, first for the Army Air Corps, and then for the Springfield Armory.
At just 21 miles away from the Armory, Quabbin proved to be isolated and spacious enough that weapons—some of which were highly guarded secrets—could be fired regularly. Most of the Post-War weapons designed by the Armory, including the M-60 machine gun, the M-14 rifle, and large-caliber aircraft cannons, were test-fired here and demonstrated to foreign and domestic generals and dignitaries.
The panel background is a historic photograph that has been colorized. Two men in white lab coats stand on a beach at Quabbin Reservoir. One of them holds a rifle in his hands. Several other firearms are set nearby. Another man is at a podium, speaking to the crowd sitting on bleachers. Larger belt-fed weapons are also set along the beach, all aimed at the waters of the reservoir.
A caption at the bottom of the background reads: Explore further down the trail to reach the same beach (shown here) where Armory officials demonstrated their latest advancements.
In the upper right of the panel a black and white photograph features a deck-like structure that has on it an aircraft wing. Various boxes, wires, and equipment can been seen around the structure. Two men work on a machine gun turret with four barrels. The caption reads:
“The building remnants in front of you were used as secured weapon mounts. Large-caliber Gatling guns were hung from the large structure to the right while other weapons could be mounted to various attachments on the structure.”
On the bottom right of the panel are two color photographs. The larger one shows a woman in a red rain jacket about to step into a small creek. In her hands is a piece of monitoring equipment. A smaller inset photo has a closeup of a man drinking out of a water fountain. The caption reads:
Extensive remediation efforts and regular testing of the water at Quabbin Reservoir ensures that pristine water is supplied to the Boston metropolitan area despite its history as a test site.
As you face this panel, a tree-lined pathway to your left leads down to the reservoir’s shoreline. In front of you and to the left are the remains of a platform, spread out over a small depression. A rusted metal structure sits atop a concrete bunker. One steel wall remains. Steel I-beams extend out from the structure. Trees of varying ages have begun to overtake the structure, matching the forest that surrounds you. A little further in the distance is a large metal frame, resembling a swing set that is about 20 feet tall. To your right is the pathway that takes you up to the road.
The text of this panel reads:
For over 100 years, the Water Shops thumped and pulsed with activity. The beating hammers of drop forges rang out while furnaces glowed white-hot to heat-treat barrels. A 1861 visitor complained of the “incessant and intolerable clangor and din.” It was here at the Water Shops, the main site of heavy manufacturing for the Springfield Armory, that raw materials were shaped into gun parts for war.
Prior to its construction in the late 1850s, the Armory had three different complexes along the Mill River. These smaller, less efficient manufacturing centers were consolidated here into one location when the Armory installed some of the earliest turbines in the United States. Later turbines were connected to massive generators that drove electrified machines. Today, the Water Shops house privately run manufacturing businesses.
The panel background shows a row of large machines—drop forges—in one of the Water Shops. The forged metal machines are large and bulky, and resemble the shape and size of a dinosaur's leg. Four men attend the machines, their figures appear slightly blurred from their movement when the photograph was taken.
A caption for the background photo reads: Shafts of light illuminate a line of hammer forges in the Water Shops in 1962.
The top right corner of the panel contains an area map. It shows the location of the Water Shops, where you are, and the most direct route to the Hill Shops, where the rest of the historic Armory buildings are—as well as the location of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. Also indicated on the maps are the Springfield Cemetery, located between the Water Shops and Hill Shops, and the Water Shops pond, located directly behind the Water Shops complex.
The map's caption reads: The Water Shops are only a part of the story of the Armory. Just up Walnut Street is the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. The National Park Service operates a free museum and hosts events year-round. Also on the grounds of the historic site is the campus of Springfield Technical Community College.
The bottom right of the panel contains a black and white historic image of the Water Shops. The photograph was taken from Central Street, some distance away from the Water Shops. This perspective captures a view of the raceway that directed water back to its source after it is used for power generation, Walnut Street, which runs in front of the Water Shops, an impressive stone bridge that allowed Walnut Street to cross the raceway, and the complex of Water Shops themselves. A large smokestack rises from the rear of the Water Shops. The central feature of the Water Shops is its imposing tower, which stands nearly twice as tall as the rest of the buildings in the complex. A number of horse-drawn carriages move along Central and Walnut Streets, while pedestrians can be seen walking, sitting, and engaging in conversation. The caption reads:
The Water Shops bustled with activity, as seen here in this c. 1870 photo. The Water Shops contained many of the large, power-hungry machines used by the Armory. Design, testing, final fitting, assembly, and light manufacturing took place a mile away at the Armory’s “Hill Shops.”
The text of the panel reads:
Established in 1938, the Armory’s Apprentice School trained promising workers in new skills and techniques. Guided by veteran hands, the Apprentice School molded entry-level workers into industrial innovators.
During World War II, the school evaluated potential workers and matched them with jobs, including thousands of women and minority laborers, who helped fill a critical need as wartime production kicked into high gear.
The Armory continued the successful program after the war, opening up opportunities and careers for the next generation of apprentices.
The main panel image is a historic photograph showing a women wearing a dress, identification badge, hat, and welding goggles holding a lit brazing torch. A vice holds a piece of metal while she holds the brazing material. A male instructor stands next to the woman, guiding her through the process. They are standing in a large room with various pieces of industrial equipment.
A caption for this photograph reads: A woman learns how to braze metals in the Apprentice School (1943).
A quote from Harriet Atwood reads:
“...[W]e had classes all day, for about 8 hours a day for about four months. There were all kinds of courses, like introductory engineering. We learned how to run the machines. We took the guns apart and put them together. We had shop, math…well, it was just like going to school.”
On the right side of the panel, a closeup image of an identification badge is shown. The badge contains a photograph of a man on front of a height chart with the words Springfield Armory and the numbers 59864 below him. The circular photograph is attached to a clip by a small piece of fabric. The fabric has on top of it a metal ribbon that has a red, white, and blue pattern on it and a large E in the middle. The caption reads:
Robert McDonald, 17, wore this identification badge every day he came to work at Springfield Armory in 1942.
Below the identification badge are two other historic photos. The first is a black and white photograph showing a classroom full of students sitting at drafting desks. An older man talks to one of the students and is pointing out something on a sheet of paper with a ruler. The caption reads:
When the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the Armory was producing 1,100 M1 rifles per day. By January 1944, with the help of thousands of women and minority workers who had previously been excluded from Armory jobs, production more than quadrupled to over 4,600 per day.
In the lower photograph, four men—all wearing glasses and their identification badges—meet around a table where a technical drawing is spread out. Various pieces of equipment are positioned in the room, with a vice and drill press visible.
For more information, you can contact the Springfield Armory National Historic Site via email at: spar_interpretation@nps.gov, via phone at: 413-734-8551, or via the park website at: www.nps.gov/spar.