US Military Academy - Westpoint

606 Thayer Rd, West Point, NY 10996, USA

New York

state

NY - Orange

county

NYC

city

MUSEUM

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In addition to the Main Museum building in Olmsted Hall, the Museum also administers Fort Putnam which it operates seasonally. The Museum also maintains part it collection on display on Post with the Cannon collection on Trophy Point, The Superintendant Portrait in the Cadet mess and Artwork in many of the academic and administrative buildings.

SITE FEATURES

Surviving Structures, Reconstructions, Restaurant, Tours, Exhibits, Programs, Gift Shop

On this site...

West Point Museum is our oldest federal museum. Its origins can be traced to the American Revolution. Captured artillery pieces, small arms and accouterments brought to West Point became training aids for the fledging Corps of Cadets and the Revolutionary War artillery park at Fort Clinton was a tourist attraction despite the relative isolation of the area in the late 18th century.

FORT

EST. JAN 1778

FORTIFICATION

BATTLEFIELD

Sep 24, 1780

The Continental Army first occupied West Point, New York, on 27 January 1778, and it is the oldest continuously operating Army post in the United States. Between 1778 and 1780, the Polishengineer and military hero Tadeusz Kościuszko oversaw the construction of the garrison defenses. However, Kościuszko's plan of a system of small forts did not meet with the approval of New York Governor (and General) George Clinton or the other general officers. It was determined that a battery along the river to "annoy the shipping" was more appropriate, and Washington's chief engineer, Rufus Putnam, directed the construction of a major fortification on a hill 500 feet (150 m) above sea level that commanded the West Point plain. General Alexander McDougall named it Fort Putnam.

The Great Hudson River Chain and high ground above the narrow "S" curve in the river enabled the Continental Army to prevent the Royal Navy from sailing upriver and dividing Patriot forces in the Northern colonies from the south. While the fortifications at West Point were known as Fort Arnold during the war, as commander, Benedict Arnold committed his act of treason, attempting to turn the fort over to the British. After Arnold betrayed the patriot cause, the Army changed the name of the fortifications at West Point, New York, to Fort Clinton, named after General James Clinton. With the peace after the American Revolutionary War, various ordnance and military stores were left deposited at West Point.