West Point bridges military past and future

By Jennifer McGraw Karchmer
Poughkeepsie Journal

This citadel perched on the banks of the Hudson River in Orange County draws more than three million visitors each year. In fact, it’s one of the top three tourist attractions in the state, according to the New York State Department of Tourism.

‘‘People come to West Point for its history. We are a national historic site here since 1778. Our history is everywhere you look, what we’re doing for the nation today, developing young men and women into military leaders,’’ West Point spokeswoman Deb DeGraw said.

Officers start here

Since 1898, ‘‘Duty, Honor, Country’’ has been the academy’s motto as it trains cadets to become officers in the U.S. Army. Twenty-five percent of today’s army officers are West Point graduates. More than 11,000 students a year pursue admission to the academy for only about 1,200 slots. The class of 2002 had 1,054 men and 192 women.

West Point, the nation’s oldest continuously occupied military post, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960.

West Point was a fortress before it was a military academy because Commander-in-Chief George Washington and others recognized its strategic importance to the defense of the Hudson River. President Thomas Jefferson signed a bill in 1802 locating a federal engineering school and a military academy at West Point. And so the Army’s ‘‘Long Gray Line’’ began its march more than 200 years ago with the graduation of two cadets, Joseph Swift and Simon Levy.

Visitors can watch a cadet parade on The Plain, learn about the history of the U.S. Army, visit the graves of military heroes interred at the West Point Cemetery, or admire more than a dozen military monuments. Still others choose to dine at Hotel Thayer or enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Hudson Highlands from Trophy Point.

Constitution Island, across the Hudson River from West Point, is home of the first Revolutionary War fortifications. In the 1830s, the island was purchased by Henry Warner and became the home of his two daughters who were prolific writers.

The island was donated to the academy in 1908. The Warner House and Revolutionary fortifications still stand and are available for tours.

Security at West Point has been increased since Sept. 11, 2001, so visitors must present photo ID to attend the hour-long guided bus tour beginning at the Visitor’s Center.

Guide is required

Unfortunately, no self-guided tours are allowed and guided tours are not conducted on Saturdays when Army football has a home game or during Graduation week, so it’s recommended you call ahead to check the status of tours for the day you’re arriving.

Adult admission is $7 for the bus tour; children under 12 are $4 each. The Visitor’s Center, on the site of the former Ladycliff College Library outside the main Thayer Gate, offers historical and informational videos and maps, a full-scale cadet barracks room, a movie theater and a gift shop.

If you prefer to skip the bus tour and instead have a brief overview of West Point, watch the 22-minute historical film at the Visitor’s Center, shown every half hour. The film is free.

The West Point Museum, behind the Visitors Center, welcomes more than 200,000 visitors and thousands of school groups each year.

The museum contains 45,000 artifacts, from military arms to military art, and is considered the oldest and largest repository of military history in the Western Hemisphere.

The museum’s collections encompass the history of West Point and the U.S. Military Academy, the evolution of warfare and the development of the U.S. armed forces.

Keep an eye out for rare artifacts including Washington’s pistols, Napoleon’s sword and a drawing by Ulysses S. Grant.

Relevant Web link: For more coverage of the U.S. Military Academy, log on to www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/projects/west_point