Springfield Armory National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Massachusetts. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 1 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Springfield Armory
We matched 1 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Springfield Armory. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Covered Bridges (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Springfield Armory the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:44 PM | 242° | 9h 27m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 7:27 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:23 PM | 254° | 10h 36m |
| March | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:31 PM | 284° | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:31 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:05 PM | 297° | 14h 34m |
| June | 5:15 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:29 PM | 303° | 15h 14m |
| July | 5:28 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:26 PM | 301° | 14h 57m |
| August | 5:59 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:53 PM | 290° | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:10 PM | 259° | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:41 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:30 PM | 246° | 9h 49m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:58 AM | 3:35 PM | 4:20 PM | 239° | 9h 08m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.1086, -72.5797); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Springfield Armory, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:30 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:22 AM – 4:22 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:31 AM – 3:31 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| June | 10:40 PM – 3:00 AM | 4.3 | 19° |
| July | 10:30 PM – 1:40 AM | 3.2 | 19° |
| August | 9:39 PM – 11:39 PM | 2.0 | 18° |
| September | 8:37 PM – 9:37 PM | 1.0 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
8 Estimated Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white.
Weather & best time to visit
Springfield Armory National Historic Site is situated in the heart of Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley. Our year is marked by four distinct seasons. Summers tend to be pleasant, but can at times be very hot and very humid. Autumn features brilliant foliage and cooler, calmer weather. Winter storms are capable of closing the park and can make travel dangerous. Springtime in New England is pleasant.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (68%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
The entrance to Armory Square is on Federal Street in Springfield, MA. Armory Square is shared by Springfield Armory NHS and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). The park is located on the STCC campus. Follow the one way roadway around until you see the entrance sign for the park. If stopped by campus security let them know you are visiting the park. Parking is available in front of the Springfield Armory visitor center.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Guided Tours
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
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