| The site was selected for the
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| | there were two graduating classes each in
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| construction of a fort by George
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| | 1861, 1917, 1918, 1922 and 1943.
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| Washington, and the fortifications were
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| | West Point began collegiate tradition of
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| designed in 1778 by Tadeusz
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| | the class ring, beginning with the class
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| Kościuszko. In addition to various
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| | of 1835, and continuing ever since. The
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| forts surrounding the area, a great chain
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| | lone exception is the class of 1837,
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| was strung across the Hudson River in
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| | which had class cuff links.
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| order to obstruct British ships
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| | In recent decades, the Academy's
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| attempting to navigate the river. Though
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| | curricular structure has been markedly
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| never tested, the chain performed its
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| | changed to permit cadets to major in any
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| purpose by preventing British movement up
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| | one of more than a dozen fields,
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| and down the river.
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| | including a wide range of subjects from
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| General Washington considered West Point
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| | the sciences to the humanities.
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| one of the most important positions on
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| | Outside the secured area of the academy,
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| the continent. The high ground above a
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| | there are two public buildings: the
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| narrow "S" curve in the Hudson River
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| | visitors center and the West Point
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| enabled the Continental Army to control
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| | Museum.
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| the vital river traffic. He felt that the
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| | The visitor's center offers historical
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| British Army could have split the
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| | and informational videos, parking, rest
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| colonies in two if they gained control of
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| | rooms, a gift shop, maps, pamphlets, a
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| this land. It was as commander of the
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| | full-scale cadet barracks room, and a
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| fortifications at West Point that
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| | movie theater; arrangements for guided
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| Benedict Arnold committed his famous
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| | tours can also be made. These tours,
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| treason when he attempted to sell the
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| | which are the only way the public can go
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| fort to the British.
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| | on the grounds, are operated by a
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| George Washington quickly realized the
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| | licensed contractor, West Point Tours,
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| need for a national military academy, but
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| | Inc., and leave the visitor's center
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| his Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson
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| | several times during the day. The tours
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| argued that there was no provision in the
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| | will stop and allow tourists to tour the
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| Constitution which allowed for the
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| | Cadet Chapel (if not in use at the time),
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| creation of a military academy. However,
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| | the parade grounds and Trophy Point. For
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| when Jefferson became president, he
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| | the rest of the tour, the tourists remain
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| signed legislation establishing the
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| | on the bus and as the tour guide narrates
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| United States Military Academy on March
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| | the tour of the rest of the campus.
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| 16, 1802; the school opened on July 4 of
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| | The West Point Museum is located directly
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| the same year.
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| | behind the visitor's center. The museum
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| The Superintendent from 1817 to 1833 was
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| | is in the renovated Olmsted Hall at
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| Colonel Sylvanus Thayer. He is known as
| |
| | Pershing Center on the grounds of the
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| the "father of the Military Academy." He
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| | former Ladycliff College. The grounds
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| upgraded academic standards, instilled
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| | were purchased by West Point after the
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| military discipline and emphasized
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| | college closed in the early 1980s. The
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| honorable conduct. Inspired by the French
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| | building is named after the museum's
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| École Polytechnique, Thayer
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| | primary donor, Major General George H.
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| made civil engineering the foundation of
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| | Olmsted, Class of 1922.
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| the curriculum. For the first half
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| | The museum's collections represent all
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| century, USMA graduates were largely
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| | major categories of military study from
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| responsible for the construction of the
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| | arms, cannon and artillery to uniforms,
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| bulk of the nation's initial railway
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| | military art and objects reflecting West
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| lines, bridges, harbors and roads. (The
| |
| | Point's history. Originally opened in
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| tradition continues in the hands of the
| |
| | 1854, the West Point Museum is the oldest
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| U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.) The
| |
| | and largest military museum in the
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| development of other technical schools in
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| | country. It contains some of America's
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| the United States during the post-Civil
| |
| | most interesting national military
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| War period allowed West Point to broaden
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| | treasures and one of the finest
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| its curriculum beyond a strict civil
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| | collections of military small arms
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| engineering focus.
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| | available for public viewing. Every
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| After World War I, Superintendent Douglas
| |
| | American armed conflict is represented in
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| MacArthur sought to further diversify the
| |
| | the 135 exhibits. An additional gallery
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| academic curriculum. In recognition of
| |
| | portrays the history of the United States
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| the physical demands of modern warfare,
| |
| | Army during peacetime and its role as a
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| MacArthur pushed for major changes in the
| |
| | formative nation builder of our country.
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| physical fitness and athletic programs.
| |
| | West Point's history during and after the
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| "Every cadet an athlete" became an
| |
| | Revolutionary War, as well as the
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| important goal. At the same time, the
| |
| | institutional history of the Military
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| cadet management of the Honor System,
| |
| | Academy, are traced in the West Point
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| long an unofficial tradition, was
| |
| | gallery devoted to the school, the cadet
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| formalized with the creation of the Cadet
| |
| | and the officer. The museum also provides
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| Honor Committee.
| |
| | exhibits in Thayer Hall to support the
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| In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed
| |
| | Department of History cadet curriculum
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| legislation increasing the strength of
| |
| | with exhibit themes which range from
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| the Corps of Cadets from 2,529 to 4,417
| |
| | ancient to modern civilizations.
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| (more recently reduced to 4,000 but soon
| |
| | West Point is often the first place for
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| to return to 4,400).
| |
| | automobile tourists to stop and view on
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| Women were first admitted in 1976.
| |
| | the New York City to Albany scenic Hudson
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| No classes graduated in 1810 or 1816 and
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| | River route.
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