Before West Point was a Military Academy it was a fort for Union solders and before that it was a beautiful headland of trees with a strategic vantage point to observe the British ships and movement.
Back in 1836 two sisters move to Constitution Island, just off the headland of the makeshift fort. Susan and Anna Warner, both writers, taught Sunday school to West Point cadets. Both successful writers, Susan wrote a Wide Wide World, one of the nation's best sellers in the 1850s. Anna wrote the words to the children's verse "Jesus Loves Me". In 1908 they donated the island to the United States Military Academy. Both sisters are buried in the West Point Cemetery.
The Continental Army first occupied West Point, New York, on January 27, 1778. It is now the oldest continuously operating army-post in the United States. You can see Constitution Island in the upper right corner.
Since 1794 the garrison on the "point" has continued training in artillery and other studies. On March 16,1802 Congress formally authorized and funded the USMA at West Point.
The impending War of 1812 brought a more formal system of education and an increase in enrolls to 250 cadets. The basis for the "Long Gray Line" originated in 1814 with the introduction of gray uniforms.
Colonel Thayer is buried at West Point.
Inside the Visitor's Center are a number of displays showing cadet life. Below is a standard cadet room, usually shared. I didn't try to bounce a quarter off the bed but I'm sure it would have bounced with conviction and honor.
There was a brief video showing cadet summer training. The training was definitely intense.
We decided to take the bus tour of the grounds. You can drive your own car onto the base after passing security but typically there's almost no parking until 3:30 when the cadets race off base for other interests.
The grounds of the Academy are so beautiful. What a privilege and honor to be able to attend this institution. But I must say.....
Along the beginning of the tour I captured some pretty sites.
The Cadet Chapel dominates the landscape. It can be seen from almost every place on campus.
Boooo....these signs are everywhere. Army vs Navy football is big here, as in Annapolis.
The Cadet Chapel is the largest of seven chapels on the grounds. This Chapel seats 1100. It was built in 1910.
The stained glass is breathtaking.
We circled down to the West Point Cemetery. Below is the original and first Chapel built for the Academy, It was later moved to this location in the middle of the Cemetery.
Inside the Chapel is this plaque which once was inscribed with the name of Benedict Arnold. After he tried to sell all the strategic information about West Point to the British and compromise the United States he was found guilty of treason and exiled. It is not hanging on the wall with all the other inscribed commanders of the Point but set upon a railing on the balcony of the Chapel.
This painting was disassembled and put back up in the Chapel.
Walking through the Cemetery many famous graves were pointed out. H. Norman Schwarzkopf is buried in a simple unadorned grave. 
During the American Revolution many of the wives of our ground soldiers would accompany their husbands into battle. They were call "followers". Margaret Corbin was one of the most well known. In combat her husband was mortally wounded but she reloaded the canons and continued the battle. She continued to serve in the military throughout the war and was affectionately called Captain Molly. She was the first female to ever receive a military pension. She is buried at West Point Cemetery.In the rig next to us we met Randy and Stephanie Corbin. We put him on to this coincidence and he said he will have to see if there is a relationship. I bet there is.
Ed White (on left) was the first astronaut to walk on the moon, June 3, 1965. White died along with his fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee during prelaunch testing for the first manned Apollo mission at Cape Canaveral. January 27, 1967.
Buried here is George W. Goethals, best know for his administration and supervision of the construction and opening of the Panama Canal.
Also buried here is Captain George Armstrong Custer, popularly known for Custer's Last Stand. He and all his men were killed at the Battle of Little Big Horn. He was exhumed from his burial site at Little Big Horn and given full honor burial at West Point.
As we pulled up in the area that views the Hudson and Constitution Island we saw a group of Cadets having a study session or maybe just trying to keep cool in the shade of a tree.
Below is the Battle Monument. Civil War veterans paid and dedicated the monument in 1897. The names of 2,230 officers and soldiers of the Regular Army are inscribed on the monument.
At the top of the Battle Monument
Cannons.
Such a view point.
Most buildings on campus are beautiful and old.
The West Point Museum.
My primary focus at the museum was the history of West Point as an institution, our founding fathers whose worst fears and best hopes resulted in the conception of such an institution to help preserve our young nation. My interest is in the graduates of West Point who stood out in the continued strengthening of our country. Graduates came from all elements of society and all parts of the country. Lee and Grant, Pershing and MacArthur, Bradley and Eisenhower. All names synomous with the historical evolution of the United States.
Back in May 1775, after Lexington and Concord, our forefathers realized the importance of the Hudson River as a main invasion route between British/Canada and the 13 colonies. The point was established first as a post. There were only tents and crude wood structures. Below is an original drawing of the point above the Hudson.
West Point was one of three vantage points along the Hudson between New York City and Albany. All were fortified but because West Point had the sharpest turn in the river it's vantage point was more desirable.
Some early buildings constructed on the site.
Sylvanus Thayer was not only a graduate of West Point in 1808 he also graduated from Dartmouth College. As mentioned earlier, as Superintendent of the Academy he devoted his energy to emphasis on the discipline of the Corps of Cadets, advancement based on individual merit and promotion of academic excellence. Below is a display of his uniform, pictures and personal items.
It was following the Mexican-American War that then Army Chief of Staff, Winfield Scott praised the graduated cadets so highly that Congress appropriated funds for the building of additional buildings, a mess building, a riding hall and barracks. These buildings still stand today.
A typical Cadet Uniform.
As time progressed the necessity for a cavalry was diminished. Today there are no horses at West Point but the Academy Mascot is a Mule, of which there have been dozens so blessed and pampered.
Before ending our visit there was a section of the Museum dedicated to the Women of West Point. There was emphasis of three particular women who represented leadership, courage and success at the Academy.
Women were first admitted to USMA in 1976, America's bicentennial. Four years later, the 1980 graduating class of 913 included 62 women. The first woman to graduate from West Point was Andrea Lee Hollen.
Ranked 10th in her class of 913 she served until 1992, achieving the rank of Major. She now lives in Colorado.
Ten years later, in 1990, Kristen Michelle Baker. She was the first woman to be promoted to the rank of First Captain, the highest ranking cadet.
Laura Margaret Walker. On August 18, 2005, in Delak, Afghanistan, she made the highest sacrifice that can be given for their country. 1LT Walker is the first woman graduate of West Point to be killed in action.
There was lots more to see in the museum but for me personally the display of weapons that progressively became more efficient in killing more and more humans at one strike was disturbing. I personally was appalled at the displayed "need" to create bigger, faster and better ways to destroy. I could not let that become a focus on the blog.
But I thank you for sharing this history of West Point, not of war. I support our military and the sacrifices they have made over centuries of defending our freedom. I especially liked Robert E Lee's quote about war. Sadly, I think many have grown too fond already.
Come back soon. We leave New York soon, heading into the Land of Amish.
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