Timeline of History: 1950-Present

1950s	General Patton	1950 The George S. Patton, Jr., Monument dedicated. "Prisoner of War" Camp near Camp Buckner redesignated Camp Natural Bridge. 1955 Movie "The Long Gray Line," featuring the career of SGT Marty Maher, released. 1956 Weekly CBS Television series "West Point" begins in October. 1957 Project Equality assures even distribution of scholastic ability, physical ability, leadership potential, and height across all cadet companies; initiated with the entering Class of 1961. 1959 Positions of Chairman of the Athletic Board, Director of Athletics, and Head Football Coach previously concentrated in one individual established as separate positions upon the resignation of Coach Earl H. "Red" Blaik after 18 years of service at West Point. Riding Hall converted into Thayer Hall, an academic building.
1960s	General MacArthur	1961 USMA recognized as an official national historical landmark. 1962 On May 12, General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur, accepts the Thayer Award and delivers his famous "Duty, Honor, Country" speech. 1964 President Johnson signs law which results in an Academy expansion program almost doubling the strength of the Corps by 1973, to 4,400. New Library completed with a storage capacity of 500,000 volumes. Plebes are allowed Christmas Leave for the first time. 1965 Colonel Edward H. White II, USMA 1952, becomes the first American to walk in space. "Plebe Parent Weekend," an orientation program for parents of Fourth Classmen, initiated during Spring Leave. Ground-breaking ceremonies of new Washington Hall Barracks complex began, necessitated by expansion of the Corps. First Division of old Central Barracks, previously occupied by Cadet First Captains such as Pershing and MacArthur, to be preserved. 1966 Study of Mandarin Chinese begins. 1969 MacArthur Memorial and Barracks dedicated.
1970s		1972 Federal courts end mandatory chapel. 1973 Cavalry Plain renamed Buffalo Soldier Field. Mahan Hall completed. Honor Committee acts to eliminate silencing under the Honor Code. 1974 Cadet Activities Center (Eisenhower Hall) opens. 1975-1976 Cadet Richard Morales, Jr. serves as the first Hispanic Brigade Commander (First Captain). 1976 Electrical Engineering Honor Cases. Women cadets first admitted to the Military Academy. Borman Commission Report reviews honor at West Point. Arabic language instruction offered for the Class of 1980. 1977 West Point Study Group Report released, reviewing all aspects of the Academy program and policies. General Andrew J. Goodpaster comes out of retirement to serve as Academy Superintendent. 1979-1980 Cadet Vincent Brooks serves as the first African-American Brigade Commander (First Captain).
1980s	The Women of 1980 First women graduates Class of 1980 Holleder Center	1980 First women graduates from West Point.