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| Springfield | ||
| State | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 153.060 (2010) | |
| height | 70 feet | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Springfield is a city in the US state Massachusetts. It is the largest city in Pioneer Valleywho after the Berkshire Hills westernmost region of Massachusetts.
Tourists interested in history mainly come to the Springfield Armory to see a museum that was the largest national rifle factory in the country until 1968. Here, among other things, the weapons were produced with which the Union Army was equipped in the American Civil War.
background
Districts
(pink = Hampden County)
Downtown Springfield, Metro Center called, is on the northern edge of Memorial Bridge, and is actually quite small; you can (which is hardly worth it) hike through the whole district in a good 10 minutes on foot. Other districts are:
- to the north: Brightwood, Memorial Square, Liberty Heights, East Springfield, Indian Orchard
- in the middle (on the southern edge and east of the Metro Center): South End, Six Corners, McKnight, Old Hill, Bay, Upper Hill, Pine Point, Boston Road
- to the south: Forest Park, East Forest Park, Sixteen Acres
All urban areas west of the Connecticut River (West Springfield, Westfield, Agawam) and the urban areas east of the river Chicopee, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Hampden, East Longmeadow and Longmeadow are politically independent cities or towns and indeed belong to Hampden County and Greater Springfield, but not to the town of Springfield.
getting there
By plane
- Bradley International Airport (BDL) (Schoephoester Rd, Windsor Locks, halfway between Springfield and Hartford) is in after Logan International Airport Boston the second largest airport in New England. He owes the pompous name addition "International" to the fact that he is also from Toronto is approached. If you fly in from Europe, you have to land in Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore or Washington.
By train
By bus
In the street
By boat
mobility
Dynamic cardsThe Metro Center, where most of the sights are located, is so compact that you can easily move around on foot. On the other hand, you will find significantly more parking space here than in other American cities of this size, so you can easily get anywhere by car.
Springfield also has a well-developed network of public buses. On the website of the operator who Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, you can find routes, timetables and tariffs. Passengers aged 13 and over have $ 1.25 counted ready when boarding the bus, children travel a little cheaper (as of summer 2015). In the Customer Service Center (1341 Main Street) you can buy pre-sale tickets a little cheaper.
Tourist Attractions
Buildings
- Monarch Place, 1414 Main St.. The tallest structure in Springfield. 122 m and 26 floors, built in 1987 as an office high-rise. Because building regulations forbade building construction for a long time, there are significantly fewer high-rise buildings in Springfield than in the downtown areas of other cities of comparable size.
- Springfield Municipal Group Campanile, Court St.. One of the landmarks of Springfield, 91 m high clock tower, built in 1913. The immediately adjacent buildings are also worth seeing: the Symphony Hall on the left and the Town Hall on the right.
Museums
- 1 Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Armory Square. The Springfield Armory was the main state-owned gun and ammunition factory in the country from 1795 to 1968. Today there is a museum here with extensive exhibitions on the history and products of the factory. (Wikipedia) Parking at Springfield Technical Community College, Federal St.Open: daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: free entry.
- The quadrangle, on the eastern edge of Chestnut St, between Edward St and State St. An area in downtown Springfield where the Springfield museums a whole cluster of museums and cultural institutions can be found, all of which are conveniently located in the immediate vicinity. There is a fee to visit the museums ($ 18, children 3-17 years $ 9.50, seniors $ 12); But you only pay once and have access to all museums. Parking on Edwards Street (free use). Opening times of all museums: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- 2 Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, 21 Edwards St. The Address to learn more about the history of the city. The museum also houses the significant Esta Mantos Indian Motocycle Collection.Open: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: $ 18, children 3-17 years $ 9.50, seniors $ 12.
- 3 Springfield Science Museum, in the northeast of the plant. Natural history museum, which also includes a planetarium. Wonderful old fashioned dioramas.Open: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: $ 18, children 3-17 years $ 9.50, seniors $ 12.
- Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Chestnut St, in the middle of the block. Art museum displaying a wide range of American and European painting, including works by Courbet, Degas, Pissaro and Monet.Open: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: $ 18, children 3-17 years $ 9.50, seniors $ 12.
- 4 George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, directly northwest of the library. Art objects from antiquity and Asia, historical weapons from Japan, and everything else George and Belle Smith loved before they donated their private collection to the public.Open: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: $ 18, children 3-17 years $ 9.50, seniors $ 12.
- 5 Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, in the center of the block, between the museums. Every child in the USA knows the writer and illustrator Dr. Seuss (1904–1991), who not only wrote some of the funniest books ever written for children, but also created unforgettable characters like the Christmas hating Grinch. Seuss was born in Springfield, and the city has set him a monument here in the form of a figure garden.Open: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Free access.
- 6 Springfield City Library, 220 State St, on the southeastern edge of the complex. The city library, built in 1913, the architectural highlight of which is the central rotunda, was financed by Andrew Carnegie.Open: Mon - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.Price: $ 18, children 3-17 years $ 9.50, seniors $ 12.
History Museum
Science Museum
Smith Art Museum
Fine Art Museum
Springfield City Library
In the immediate vicinity of the Quadrangle are the very remarkable buildings of St. Michael’s Cathedral (254 State St) and the United States District Court (300 State St).
Streets and squares
- Mattoon Street. Metro Center, on the western edge of the Quadrangle. Quiet side street with wonderful historic row houses. This takes place here every year in SeptemberMattoon Street Arts Festival. instead of..
activities
shop
- Big Y, 503 Memorial Ave, West Springfield. Large supermarket (regional chain) in the middle of a shopping district, a good 5 minutes southwest of downtown Springfield.
kitchen
Cheap
medium
- Punjabi Tadka, 1688 Main St, near Gridiron St. This downtown Indian restaurant is one of the best dining spots in town.
Upscale
nightlife
accommodation
Cheap
medium
- 1 La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St.. Large chain hotel on the outskirts of downtown. Built in 1964 and last renovated in 2012. 182 rooms on 12 floors, all with microwave ovens and mini-fridges. Extensive breakfast buffet, included in the price. Large indoor swimming pool. Parking in the hotel's own parking lot free of charge. The Mt. Tom Ballroom on the 12th floor offers impressive views of the city and the surrounding area.Price: From $ 89, a little more expensive on weekends.
