Description
Pres. George Washington authorized Springfield Armory to begin manufacturing small arms for the USA military in 1794. Over nearly two centuries until its closure in 1968, the government armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, became legendary, not only for the arms provided to soldiers all the way through conflicts such as the War of 1812, the Civil War, and World War II, but also for the best way wherein those arms were crafted. The drive to produce firearms of prime quality and quantity for the nation’s military created a want to toughen manufacturing methods and machinery. Armory advancements, such as the interchangeability of parts, helped lay the groundwork of the American Industrial Revolution. As a result of these efforts, Springfield Armory is recognized not only as a first-rate government arms manufacturer, but also as a hub of industry, attracting thousands of skilled women and men from around the globe.