Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield is a city in Massachusetts, United States, located on the Connecticut River. Springfield

Its population is approximately 160,000; however the Hartford-Springfield Knowledge Corridor Metropolitan Area features 1.9 million

Basketball was invented there, (1891,) as were the American car, (1893,) the motorcycle, (1901,) and the fire engine, (1905,) among many other inventions. It is know as "The City of Firsts."

Springfield Cityscape

• Memorial Bridge, Springfield MA.jpg

  The Memorial Bridge across the Connecticut River to Springfield's Metro Center neighborhood

Springfield sites and events

• Springfield Armory.jpg

  The Springfield Armory, founded by George Washington and Henry Knox in 1777, is now a U.S. National Park, featuring the world's largest historic firearms collection

• Naismith basketball pole.jpg

  A glowing basketball sculpture soars into the Springfield sky.

• Batmansixflags ne14.jpg

  Six Flags New England sits on the Connecticut River across Springfield's South End Bridge in Agawam

• Avenue of States, The Big E, West Springfield MA.jpg

  The Big E is the 6 New England states' collective state fair. On the Avenue of the States, each of the six New England States owns its own plot of land and replica State House

Springfield tornado disaster - 06/01/11

• National Guard and state police secure Main Street in Springfield, MA; 2011 tornado outbreak.jpg

  National Guard and state police secure Main Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, after the 2011 Springfield Tornado.

• West Springfield 2011 tornado damage at MAC 1.jpg

  Digging through wreckage after the Springfield Tornado Distaster of 2011.

• Man and woman sitting among destructed property in Forest Park, Springfield, MA; 2011 tornado outbreak.jpg

  Man and woman sitting among their devastated home in the Forest Park neighborhood, Springfield, Massachusetts

• West Springfield 2011 tornado damage at MAC 4.jpg

  West Springfield and Springfield, Massachusetts experienced devastating tornado disasters on June 1, 2011.

• Westfield to Charlton tornado path, June 5, 2011.jpg

  The Springfield Tornado Disaster took place in cities and towns from Westfield to Charlton, spanning 39 miles.

• Aerial view path of destruction by 2011 tornado; Western MA; (DSC02645).jpg

  Aerial view path of destruction by 2011 Springfield, Massachusetts, Tornado

• Aerial view of houses destroyed by 2011 tornado; Western MA; (DSC02645).jpg

  Aerial view of houses destroyed in Springfield, Massachusetts, by the July 1, 2011 tornado

• Springfield, MA Tornado 2011, June 1.jpg

  Springfield, Massachusetts tornado on June 1, 2011, which devastated the city and region.

"The City of Firsts"

• Smith & Wesson Mod.29.jpg

  Smith & Wesson, founded 1852, is headquartered in Springfield.

• Apache chieff Geronimo (right) and his warriors in 1886.jpg

  Apache Chief Geronimo (right) and his warriors in 1886 with 1883 Springfield rifles.

• Indian Scout 600 cc 1920.jpg

  In 1901, America's first successful motorcycle was the Indian motorcycle of Springfield. This is a 1920 Indian Scout.

• Knoxfireengine.jpg

  The first modern fire engine was manufactured in Springfield in 1905, by Knox Automobile. Springfield had the world's first modern fire department.

• President William Howard Taft introducing the Springfield Municipal Group in Springfield, Massachusetts.jpg

  President William Howard Taft introduces the Springfield Municipal Group on Dec. 8, 1913, as "one of the most distinctive civic centers in the United States, and indeed the world."

• WBZ - Donna Halper.jpg

  In 1922, the United States' first commercial radio station, WBZA, operated out of the luxurious Hotel Kimball. The station's location was used as a marketing device to attract famous radio guests.

Springfielders

• William Pynchon.jpg

  William Pynchon, founder of Springfield and author of the New World's first "banned book"

• John Pynchon.jpg

  John Pynchon led Springfield, Massachusetts, following his father's - William Pynchon's - departure from the New World due to accusations of heresy

• Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck.jpg

  Engraving - there are no portraits - depicting Daniel Shays (left) and Job Shattuck of Shays' Rebellion

• Goodyear-Charles-LOC.jpg

  Charles Goodyear invented and patented vulcanized rubber in Springfield in 1844

• John Brown by Augustus Washington, 1846-47.png

  Abolitionist John Brown in Springfield in 1846

• Samuel Bowles.png

  In 1855, Springfield newspaper publisher Samuel Bowles encouraged the formation of, and then named the United States Republican Party.

• Whistler, James MacNeil.jpg

  The renowned painter James McNeill Whister (of Whistler's Mother fame) spent his youth in Springfield.

• Rice University - William Marsh Rice statue.JPG

  William Marsh Rice of Springfield founded Rice University in Houston, Texas

• Chester Harding photograph c.1860-1865.jpg

  Chester Harding, the world's most famous portrait painter during the mid-1800s.

• Milton bradley portrait.jpg

  Milton Bradley, game-maker, inventor of numerous popular games like The Game of Life

• Daniel Baird Wesson.jpg

  Daniel Baird Wesson, one of the founders of Smith & Wesson - the world's largest private producers of firearms, located in Springfield

• Ted Geisel NYWTS.jpg

  Dr. Seuss, Springfield author and illustrator

• GEN Creighton W Abrams.JPG

  General Creighton W Abrams commanded operations during the Vietnam War

• Ginsberg-leary-lilly.jpg

  Springfield LSD activist Timothy Leary sitting between Alan Ginsburg and Dr. Lilly.

• Taj Mahal MQ2007-c.jpg

  Taj Mahal, native Springfield musician

• Kurt Russell.jpg

  Actor Kurt Russell

• Vinny Del Negro.jpg

  NBA basketball player and current NBA basketball coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro

See also

This page was moved from commonswiki:en:Springfield, Massachusetts. Its edit history can be viewed at Springfield, Massachusetts/edithistory