Pynchon Point is on the west bank of the Connecticut River north of the US-5 bridge over the river. It is the place where William Pynchon, the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts, negotiated with the local Native Americans for the purchase of land that would become the first English settlement in the Connecticut River Valley. The site is marked by a granite monument erected in 1911 by the Connecticut Valley Historical Society. Pynchon Point is also a popular spot for fishing, boating, and picnicking, offering scenic views of the river and the Springfield skyline.