United States Military Academy Grounds and Facilities - Monuments

Monuments

West Point is home to numerous monuments of famous graduates and other military heroes and patriots. Some of the monuments include:

  • Eisenhower Monument. This 9-foot (2.7 m) statue of former General of the Army and the 34th President of the United States was dedicated in 1983. Designed by Robert L. Dean, class of 1953, it sits atop a pedestal of red granite and looks out over the Plain to the North.
  • Kosciuszko's Monument. Dedicated in 1828 and desisigned by John Latrobe, the monument was originally only the base and the column. The statue was added in 1913.
  • MacArthur Monument. This monument commemorates the Medal of Honor-winning former Superintendent and General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. Situated on the upper western corner of the Plain next to the north entrance to MacArthur Barracks, the monument consists of a statue of the general surrounded by angled granite walls that bear inscription excerpts from his 1962 Thayer Award address to the Corps of Cadets.
  • Sedgwick Monument. Erected by former members of his command, this monument commemorates former Union General John Sedgwick and was dedicated 21 Oct 1868. The spurs of the statue freely rotate and legend states that if a cadet is in danger of failing a class, they should go to the monument in full dress uniform at midnight before the final exam. If they spin the spurs at midnight, they will pass the class.
  • Thayer Monument. Commemorating the "Father of the Military Academy", this monument has known several locations during the academy's history. It currently sits at the northwest corner of the Plain adjacent to the Beat Navy Tunnel. The monument is oriented to the south, overlooking the Plain and the central cadet area. Thayer's statue is the sight of numerous memorials throughout the year as classes return for their reunions. Tradition is for the oldest living graduate of those returning classes to lay a wreath at the foot of the memorial before the alumni review for that weekend.
  • Washington Monument. Dedicated in 1916, this large statue of George Washington was moved to its current location in front of Washington Hall in 1971 when the cadet mess hall expansion was completed.

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