United States Military Academy Grounds and Facilities - Other Historic Buildings

Other Historic Buildings

• Taylor Hall: Originally called the "Administration Building", it was built by the firm Cram, Goodhue, and Furgeson in 1910. Now named after Maxwell Taylor, it is home to the Office of the Superintendent and the Office of the Dean. This class example of "collegiate gothic" architecture sits overlooking the Hudson river to the east. With its 180-foot (55 m) tower, it is the tallest all-stone masonry building in the world.
• Cullum Hall: A large social hall containing a dance floor and several receiving rooms for formal occasions. The lower levels contain the academy's photo studio. Academy tradition states that Plebes must know that there are "340 Lights in Cullum Hall". Cullum hall sits directly across the road from Doubleday field. The New York Yankees occasionally played exhibition games there in the 1920s, and cadet legend states that Babe Ruth once hit a home run off the roof of Cullum Hall, a distance of over 500 feet (150 m). This legend is unlikely given that Ruth was left-handed and Cullum Hall sits beyond the left field fence, which would have made Ruth's home run to the opposite field of his power side.
• West Point Club: Originally built in 1902 as the Officer's Club and later expanded in 1963 due to a generous gift by the wife of Gen. Palmer Eddy Pierce, class of 1891. The club has named the large second floor dining room the Pierce Room in their honor.
• Nininger Hall: The last remaining structure from the old Central Barracks, the "1st Division" was traditionally home to the highest ranking cadet. Originally built in 1882, it now houses the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic (SCPME) and is named after LT Alexander R. Nininger, Jr., the first Medal of Honor recipient of WWII.
• Superintendent's Quarters: The oldest remaining building on post, it was built in 1820, during the tenure of COL Sylvanus Thayer.