Congress formally authorized the establishment and funding of the United States
Military Academy at West Point, New York. on 16 March 1802. The entire central
campus is a national landmark and home to scores of historic sites, buildings,and 
monuments. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson
River, 50 miles north of New York City. The campus is a popular tourist attraction complete with a large visitor center and the oldest museum in the United States
Army.

The majority of the campus’s buildings are constructed from gray and black granite like the West Academic Building shown above.

 
West Point color guard leading a cadet parade

General Douglas MacArthur  was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during
the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War ll. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign. He was one
of only five men ever to rise to the rank of five-star general in the U.S. Army, and the 
only man ever to become a field marshal in the Philippine Army. MacArthur died on 
April 5, 1964 of liver disease. He was 84 years old.

            
          General MacArthur(center)returning to the Philippines as he had promised

General George Smith Patton, Jr. was  a Commanding General of the 
United States Army during the second World War. He was also well 
known for his controversial outspokenness.