"West Point Bicentennial"
A Pictorial History of the First Two Hundred Years of the United States Military Academy
Preface | 1776-1817 | 1817-1833 | 1833-1848 | 1848-1865 | 1865-1890 | 1890-1919 | 1919-1939 | 1939-1950 | 1950-1970 | 1970-1980 | 1980-2002 | Bicentennial and Beyond

Preface

The shadows lengthened with each passing minute as the sun quickly sank below the mountains to the west. Following the great river, a brisk breeze from the north brought a familiar chill to the formation of troops standing at attention as the flapping of the national colors intermittently broke the silence of the moment. The distinctive metal-on-metal sounds of unsheathing sabers and the rattle of bayonet-tipped arms followed the order to Present Arms. A blast from a single shot of cannon fire reverberated and echoed through the Highlands. White smoke slowly rose as the haunting, solemn melody of the lone bugler trailed across the Plain.

This timeless scene took place at West Point yesterday. However, most aspects of the ceremony -- the location, sights, smells and sounds coupled with the inner satisfaction and pride that only a soldier can experience through selfless service to one's country -- would have been immediately identifiable by soldiers of the Continental Army. Such is the transcendent nature of West Point.

Welcome to the United States Military Academy at West Point, a true national treasure and historic site, first occupied in January 1778 as an American Revolutionary War outpost. It is America's oldest continuously garrisoned Army installation, the nation's first engineering school and the home of the United States Corps of Cadets since 1802.

The origins of the United States Military Academy lie in the American Revolution, when national leaders sought both the professional military expertise necessary to win independence and the mathematical and scientific education they believed necessary to maintain it. The effort to design a balance between specialized professional military training and technical academic education has always been present at the Military Academy. West Point underwent many changes as it evolved from an isolated army post, poorly organized and supported, to an established institution that trained, educated, and inspired thousands of officers who have led America’s armies for two centuries. Though the mission and curriculum of the academy were frequently debated and its direction often questioned, it developed systems of education, military training and character development that served the nation well in both war and peace. Although much of its curriculum was patterned on foreign models, the Military Academy ultimately was, and continues to be, a unique American institution, committed to our democratic values of equal opportunity, personal responsibility and recognition by merit. Through its efforts, thousands of young men and women have been able to reach their full potential and provide vital service to the nation.