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Springfield Armory National Historic SiteStars and Stripes fly atop the Main Arsenal
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Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Exhibits at The Springfield Armory NHS
 
The Museum
Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS
James Langone, Photographer
The Museum at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site is in the original Main Arsenal building, circa 1848.
 
The Musuem, established just after the Civil War, displays about a fifth of the total collection.
THE NUMBERED EXHIBIT CASES DISPLAYED IN THE MAP OF THE MUSEUM FLOOR ABOVE MAY BE SEEN BY "CLICKING" ON THE CORRESPONDING GOLD-HIGHLIGHTED CASES BELOW!!
Springfield Armory National Historic Site possesses, uniquely, the world's largest museum collection of historic US military shoulder arms, associated archives, and some production machinery that help tell the story of the men and women who labored here for nearly two centuries.
 
This double gun rack contains 645 original Springfield US Model 1861 rifle muskets used in the Civil War.

Springfield Armory NHS, US NPS

The double gun rack housing the Springfield US M1861 rifle muskets in the Museum is the sole survivor of 36 built in the early 1830's.

MUSEUM MAP AND EXHIBITS

Displayed are examples from our Nation's largest collection of experimental and standard U.S. military small arms. Of special interest are Jefferson Davis's personal rifle, the collection of developmental M-1's from patent model, a Texas Ranger Colt Walker, and the "Organ of Muskets" made famous by the Longfellow poem, "The Arsenal at Springfield."

The Springfield Armory Museum is divided into two areas: "Industry" presents the story of important people and processes; "Weapons" presents the story of U.S. shoulder arms, edged weapons, and pistols.

The following topics and case numbers may help you to virtually tour the museum.

ENTRANCE

INFORMATION DESK and FAMILY & JUNIOR RANGER AREA 

MUSEUM STORE

THEATER

 

Exhibits:

Machinery

Dioramas

The “Organ of Muskets”

Special Exhibits :

         Shays's Rebellion; Arms Collecting

Past Exhibits:

A Springfield Rifle Musket (A Vermont Civil War soldier's story)

Exhibit 77 The Armory & the City

Exhibit 78 Lyle “life-saving” gun

Exhibit 79 Historic Machine Gun development

 

 

Display cases:

Cases 1-2 Swords and Handguns

Cases 3-4 Evolution of Firearms

Cases 5-9 Production from 1795 to Civil War

Cases 10-14 Contract Arms

Cases 15-16 Confederate Weapons

Case 17 The American Long Rifle

Case 18 Plains Rifles

Cases 19-21 Evolution of the Breechloader

Cases 22-23 Magazine Loaded Weapons

Cases 24-29 The 1903 "Springfield" Rifle

Cases 30-31 Foreign Weapons-World War I

Cases 32-34 Foreign Weapons-World War II

Cases 35-38 Development of the M1 Rifle

Cases 39-44 Search for Lightweight Weapons

Cases 45-46 Pistols

 

 
Eleanor Roosevelt  

Did You Know?
After the death of FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt continued to play an important role. She dedicated herself to humanitarian causes, earning the nickname "First Lady of the World" from President Harry S. Truman.

Last Updated: May 29, 2009 at 16:10 EST