Springfield Armory Established

George Washington directed the establishment of a military arsenal at Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1777. The site was chosen for its strategic advantages: located on the Connecticut River but far enough inland to be safe from British naval attack, with access to water power, iron ore, and timber.

The armory began as a storage depot for munitions and gradually expanded into a manufacturing facility. Continental Army muskets, cartridges, and gun carriages were produced here, supplementing the weapons captured from the British and imported from France. The Springfield Armory would remain in operation until 1968, making it the longest-operating armory in American history.