United States Military Academy

The United States Military Academy is the federal service academy commonly known as West Point, established by Congress in 1802 to educate and commission officers for the U.S. Army. It occupies a large riverside campus on the Hudson River and functions as an operational military academy with an undergraduate cadet corps.

The campus includes ceremonial spaces such as the Parade Ground (the Plain), the historic Cadet Chapel and a military museum preserving artifacts and archives related to the Academy’s history. Public visitors can tour parts of the campus and visit museum exhibits subject to security procedures and scheduled hours.

The site at West Point was a strategic river fortification during the American Revolutionary War and later developed into the national military academy under early federal authority. Over two centuries it has expanded its academic, military and athletic facilities while retaining a continuous role in officer education.

West Point is located on the west bank of the Hudson River at the village of West Point, New York, about north of New York City; the campus overlooks the river and is surrounded by wooded hills and military training areas.

• Founding and purpose: Founded by an act of Congress in 1802, the academy was established to train officers for the U.S. Army and remains one of the U.S. service academies with an active undergraduate military program.
• Visitor access: Guided campus tours and a museum are available to civilian visitors, but security procedures and visitor hours apply - check the academy website for current access rules and identification requirements.

What to See #

• The Plain (Parade Ground): The central parade ground known as the Plain, used for ceremonial parades and daily cadet activities and forming the campus core.
• West Point Cemetery: The West Point Cemetery located on campus slopes, containing graves and memorials for graduates, officers and historical figures associated with the Academy.
• Cadet Chapel and West Point Museum: The cadet chapel and visitor-accessible museum buildings that present the institution's history, artifacts and regimental collections.