Springfield Armory National Historic Site to offer free guided tours on Fridays beginning August 28th
SPRINGFIELD, MA – Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Springfield Armory National Historic Site is increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.
Beginning August 28, Springfield Armory National Historic Site, in coordination with Springfield Technical Community College, will begin offering ranger guided tours of the historic grounds on Fridays at 11:00 a.m., weather permitting. Tours will be limited to 10 and pre-registration is required via the park website calendar of events www.nps.gov/spar or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sparnhs. As tours take place on state and federal property, Springfield Technical Community College requires attendees to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed to the public at this time:
- Springfield Armory museum and visitor center
- All public restrooms
- Park grounds
- All Springfield Technical Community College buildings
Superintendent Kelly Fellner notes that “We are working in close coordination with Springfield Technical Community College administrators to offer access for our visitors while ensuring the health and wellness of all.” During this closure the park is continuing the critical systems upgrades work through the NPS contracted services of Gardner Construction & Industrial Services, Inc. In addition, the park is addressing critical maintenance needs in order to provide new safety and cleaning measures.
The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners continues to be paramount. At Springfield Armory National Historic Site, our operational approach will be to examine each facility function and service provided to ensure those operations comply with current public health guidance and will be regularly monitored. We continue to work closely with the NPS Office of Public Health using CDC guidance to ensure public and workspaces are safe and clean for visitors, employees, partners, and volunteers.
A safe and enjoyable park experience begins at home. The NPS encourages visitors to plan their visit by checking the park’s website and social media for current conditions and travel tips. The CDC has offered guidance to help people recreating in parks and open spaces to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We ask the public to be our partner in recreating responsibly, by following CDC and state and local guidance, social distancing, and wearing a face covering when social distance cannot be maintained.
Details and updates on park operations will continue to be posted on our website www.nps.gov/spar and www.facebook.com/sparnhs. Updates about NPS operations will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus.
ABOUT THE PARK: Springfield Armory National Historic Site is the location of the nation’s first armory (1794 – 1968) and was established by George Washington. The site includes historic grounds, buildings, and the world’s largest historic American military firearms collection. For updates and further information call (413) 734-8551, check the website at www.nps.gov/spar or go to www.facebook.com/sparnhs.