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Final Construction
Massachusetts Volunteer Militia (Massachusetts National Guard) finished construction on the armory in 1895. The Armory was designed by Robert Wait and Amos Cutter, two architects from Boston. -
Development of the M1903 Rifle
In 1903 the M1903 rifle design (Also know as the Springfield) was adopted and used in World War I and World War II. The rifle was designed because of American response to combat in the War of 1898... It was said that in WWI there were 843,239 M1903's in service. -
Expansion
During this period, the armory underwent major renovation and expansion. Nearly $125,000 went into the alteration of the building. Construction to improve the head house and expand the drill shed was completed by Samuel M. Green Company and architect James E. McLaughlin. -
John Garand Begins Working at Springfield Armory
John Garand was employed here as an engineer to design a new semi-automatic rifle. -
Semiautomatic M1 Rifle is Patented
In 1932, John Garand patented the semi-automatic M1 rifle that he developed working at the Springfield Armory. This rifle had a higher accuracy, rate of fire and magazine capacity than any other models created during this time. Here is a design sketch from his official patent. -
US Army adopts the M1 Rifle
In January 1936, the US Army adopted this rifle to be used by their troops. -
Mass Production of the M1 Rifle
In 1940, the M1 rifle began being mass produced as it was recognized as the standard infantry weapon (and a crucial one too) during World War II. Millions of these rifles were produced right in Springfield, MA. -
Marine Corp and Navy adopt the M1 Rifle
Following in the footsteps of the US army, the US marine corp and US Navy adopted the M1 rifle to be used by their troops in 1940. -
Garand's First Award
John Garand was awarded the US Meritorious Civilian Service Award for his work engineering the M1 Garand rifle. -
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Women in the Workforce
During World War II, over 40 percent of the armory's workforce was women. The women worked an average of 56 hours a week assembling the rifles. -
Garand awarded the US Medal for Merit
John Garand was awarded the US Medal for Merit as well as the Alexander L. Holley Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. -
General Patton Praises the M1 Garand
Lt. George Patton wrote to General Campbell, “In my opinion, the M-1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised.” -
John Garand Retires
This was the year that John Garand retired from the Springfield Armory after having worked here for 34 years as a weapons engineer. -
Historic Landmark
The armory became registered as a National Historic Landmark. -
Springfield Technical Institute
A Utilities Service Agreement between, Springfield Armory and Springfield Technical Institute (STI) was agreed upon in 1967. STI took over 26 of the armory's buildings. -
Closing
In 1968, the armory was closed by the Defense Department, said to be a controversial economy measure. -
National Register of Historic Places
Congress approved the movement to list the Springfield Armory on the National Register of Historic Places. -
John Garand's Death
John Garand passed away at the age of 86 and is buried in the Hillcrest Park Cemetery nearby in Springfield, MA. -
National Historic Mechanical Engineering
The site was listed as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1980. Shown is the plaque placed outside the armory