SPRINGFIELD, MA – Join us on Saturday, June 22 for our annual Armory Day celebration from 10:00am-4:00pm. This event recognizes the relationship between Springfield Armory firearms and the American soldier. Reenactors in the living history military encampment will portray over 50 infantrymen from 17th century militia, Civil War, World War One, World War Two, Korean War and the Vietnam War. Admission is free.
“I like to think of our annual Armory Day celebration as an open house, comments Ranger Susan Ashman. We recently opened our new photography exhibit, “Art in the Everyday” and a youth art exhibit created by local schoolkids. To coincide with the art theme, we are having wet-plate photography demonstration on Armory Day. There will definitely be something of interest for everyone who attends!”
In addition,visitors will have the opportunity to watch 18th & 19th century blank firing demonstrations, tour the Commandant’s House, watch a wet-plate photography demonstration, talk with reenactors in the military encampment, view two new photography exhibits, partake in Junior Ranger activities, and more. Friends of the Springfield Armory NHS will also be having a military used book sale inside the museum.
Schedule for the day:
10:00am: Commandant’s House tour – meet on the porch of the Commandant’s House
10:45am: Wet-Plate Photography demonstration – outside behind the Arsenal
11:45am: 18th & 19th century blank firing demonstration– demonstration field
12:45pm: “The Common Soldier” – military encampment
1:15pm: “Art in the Everyday” – new exhibit area inside museum
1:45pm: Wet-plate Photography demonstration– outside behind the Arsenal
3:00pm: 18th& 19th century blank firing demonstration – demonstration field
4:00pm: “Letters of WWI” video presentation – museum theater