In 1795, Springfield Armory began manufacturing muskets for the United States Military on a site where General George Washington had authorized weapons to be stored during the Revolutionary War. Within decades it became the nation's primary armory, and manufacturing methods critical to the development of American industry were perfected there. After nearly two centuries producing muskets and rifles for America's armed forces, it closed 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 as a lively urban park and community resource.
