Wednesday, July 10, 2013: The U.S. Military at West Point

Date:                           July 10, 2013

Day on the Cruise:      86

From:                          Kingston City Marina, Kingston, NY                                            

To:                              Kingston City Marina, Kingston, NY

Statute Miles:              0.0 SM

Time:                          0.0 Hrs

Cumulative Miles:       1,874.5 SM

On Board:                  Susan, Chuck, Maggie, Trooper, Peanut

We drove about an hour and 15 minutes South of here this morning to go see the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. I had been there with my parents and sister back in the late 50's. It is very mountainous down there and both the drive and the views were beautiful.

The town of Highland Falls borders the Academy proper. We ate lunch downtown. It was good, but again we ran into a charge for refills on iced tea. This is a common practice up here that we don't like or agree with. It cost us $7.50 for three glasses of tea. Lesson finally learned: don't assume refills are complimentary! Ask first!

Town of Highland Falls

After lunch we went across the street to the Visitor's center. The Academy took over a failed all girl's school years ago, and made a Visitor's center, gift shop, and museum of the buildings. This complex is several blocks from the main gate of the Academy. We signed up for the two hour bus tour.

Visitor's Center several blocks from the Gate to the Academy

Susan in front of the Red Cross Building

The tour left at 2:00. We drove around the campus. We saw the famous football stadium that is named for a cadet that got the first football game with Navy. Stops were at the big Chapel, the Cemetery, and a park high above the Hudson that featured a beautiful view of the River.

Football Stadium

The stained glass windows in the Chapel are beautiful. The design of the building is heavy gothic with stone masonry construction. The interior of the chapel features high ceilings, darkness, and 1,500 seats in rows and rows of pews. The stained glass windows let in very little light. There is a huge organ with thousands of pipes. Some pipes are 32' high! Surprisingly, there is no air conditioning in this beautiful 105 year old building, and it was stifling inside.

The Chapel towers over the Academy

View of the Valley from the Chapel

View of Cadet Barracks from the Chapel

The Nave of the Chapel. Picture shows more light than there actually is

Beautiful stained glass windows

Stained glass windows over the altar

Heavy stone construction

Roof structure

Altar

"Duty, Honor, Country" over the Altar

The cemetery is very interesting. We saw grave sites of many famous Americans. We also got to view the very first chapel that was relocated to the Cemetery area. This building was used in the 1800's and was where many famous Civil War officers worshipped while they studied at West Point.

Military Academy Cemetery

George Custer's grave

George Custer's Grave Stone Monument

Custer was the "Goat" of his glass (last ranked in the glass) and this is celebrated on his grave monument

At the point park where we stopped, high above the Hudson River, we saw statues and cannon from many Army battles. We also saw several groups of new cadets who started their training earlier this month. They are in a training period called "Beast Barracks". The cadets were marching in formation, and this certainly left a lot to be desired. It was interesting to see this training in person. Good luck to 'em!

Civil War Monument in Point Park

View of the Hudson looking up river

Brand new cadets in "Beast Barracks"

New cadets marching from the laundry

New cadets marching past us

We did get to see the parade field and the barracks where the cadets live and eat their meals. We could not go into the barracks like we did at Annapolis. We also drove by the massive gothic buildings along the River that we saw when we cruised by the Academy on our boat "Blue Moon".

This is the Superintendent"s Home. He is rotating out this week and the movers are at his house

McArthus Barracks where cadets live and eat

Library

Street scene along the River

Buildings along the River

Buildings along the Hudson

All in all, this visit was not what the Naval Academy visit was. Because they would not let you walk around West Point like we did at Annapolis, this visit seemed far less personal, and far less accessible. The views of the Hudson Valley were fabulous. It was also fun to see the new cadets drilling in the intense heat and humidity.

Tomorrow I think we will go up to the Erie Canal and try to see what they are doing at Lock 12. Hopefully we can get an idea of when this thing may open, as they sure didn't tell us anything today.

Thanks for Reading!