a former American weapons manufacturing and storage facility located in Springfield, Massachusetts, about 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Boston. The Springfield Armory was built during the AmericanRevolutionary War (1775-1783) and in 1794 became the first federal United States armory. Throughout the 1800s it produced numerous weapons, including various different small arms, rifles and ammunition. It also supplied firearms for use in WorldWar I (1914-1918) and II (1939-1945). In the late 1960s, the armory ceased production of weapons and was turned into the Springfield Armory Museum, displaying small arms and related items.