harpers ferry armory, more formally known as the united states armory and arsenal at harpers ferry, was the second federal armory commissioned by the united states government. it was located in harpers ferry, west virginia (then part of virginia). it was also called the "mother arsenal", a term coined in 1797 by the first secretary of the navy benjamin stoddert. the first federal armory was the springfield armory located in springfield, massachusetts. in many books the town is called “harper’s ferry” with an apostrophe. the national armory has been associated with many historical events throughout the history of the united states.