West Point Visit

[SJU]

I visited West Point this weekend and took some photos. Hope someone finds them interesting.
Here are some from the cemetery.

Top photo from the left: Col. Benjamin Davis who lead the Harper's Ferry cavalry breakout, Alonzo Cushing, Judson Kilpatrick, Thomas Ruger and John Buford.
The second photo is the resting place of Egbert Ludovicus Viele. His Civil War career was relatively modest but his grave certainly isn't! His mausoleum is a pyramid guarded by a pair of sphinxes. Through the grate you can see the medieval looking sarcophagi of Viele and his wife. Viele had an electric buzzer installed in his tomb in case he was accidentally buried alive. He must have been an interesting guy.
The rest of the photos probably don't require an explanation.

I'll try and post other photos later.

 

[Cavalier]

Always wanted to go there. Thanks for the photos.

John

 

[Lubliner]

Are any of the buildings open to the public; and is there a museum there? Thanks, I would love to see drone footage of the cemetery to get an idea of its size. How many veterans are buried there?
Lubliner.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article and photos. This has been in my bucket list for sometime now..

 

[redbob]

Is it still a closed post and you need a military ID to enter?

 

[major bill]

Are any of the buildings open to the public; and is there a museum there? Thanks, I would love to see drone footage of the cemetery to get an idea of its size. How many veterans are buried there?
Lubliner.

The museum there is very well done. Sadly most people never get to see the arms vault where the truly rare weapons are kept. Remember, West Point is the place the Army sents its rare weapons and there are some very rare items there.

 

[major bill]

Are any of the buildings open to the public; and is there a museum there? Thanks, I would love to see drone footage of the cemetery to get an idea of its size. How many veterans are buried there?
Lubliner.

When I visited we went in to the the historic chapel. A bit small but a great hisoric place.

 

[USS ALASKA]

Sirs...

...and please see -

https://www.westpoint.edu/sites/default/files/pdfs/ABOUT/Cemetery%20Brochure.pdf

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Awesome! On my Bucket List....

Bill

 

[major bill]

When I visited, my wife called and asked what I was doing. I answered "I am at Trophy Point talking to a couple cows." She seemed sceptical.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for posting all the photos

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

What GREAT photos, Pat! Amazing amount of money went into those monuments! I wonder if the wire to the buzzer still works?

 

[NFB22]

Great photos. A lot of significant US history in that cemetery.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Thanks for sharing! I have always wanted to visit the Post cemetery.

 

[Cavalry Charger]

There are some very elaborate monuments to the dead there, and I think you've shared an image of the most unusual one.

Cemeteries can be fascinating places.

 

[donna]

Wonderful photos. Place I never visited. Thanks for sharing.

 

[lupaglupa]

Are any of the buildings open to the public; and is there a museum there?

Is it still a closed post and you need a military ID to enter?

There is a museum that is outside the gates. Last I went you could only access the site on a tour bus or with permission. I had an appointment at the library and was able to walk on but I evidently took a restricted path and got warned and re-routed! When I was a child it was all open and you could tour the buildings and see the cadets in their classes. It's sad that's no longer true.

 

[bankerpapaw]

I visited West Point this weekend and took some photos. Hope someone finds them interesting.
Here are some from the cemetery.

Top photo from the left: Col. Benjamin Davis who lead the Harper's Ferry cavalry breakout, Alonzo Cushing, Judson Kilpatrick, Thomas Ruger and John Buford.
The second photo is the resting place of Egbert Ludovicus Viele. His Civil War career was relatively modest but his grave certainly isn't! His mausoleum is a pyramid guarded by a pair of sphinxes. Through the grate you can see the medieval looking sarcophagi of Viele and his wife. Viele had an electric buzzer installed in his tomb in case he was accidentally buried alive. He must have been an interesting guy.
The rest of the photos probably don't require an explanation.

I'll try and post other photos later.
View attachment 419432

View attachment 419442

View attachment 419443

View attachment 419444

View attachment 419445

View attachment 419447

View attachment 419449

View attachment 419450

Steeped in history!!!

 

[SJU]

I'm running around a bit and will post more photos/info tomorrow. Lupaglupa summed it up. Prior to 9/11 it was open to the public. There is a Visitor Center and an outstanding museum outside the gate open to the public. To enter the Academy grounds you have to stop at the Visitor Center and join a tour. I'd call the Visitor Center for more info if interested.
There is a big exception though. Army football games! I went Saturday for the Wake Forest game.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

There is a big exception though. Army football games! I went Saturday for the Wake Forest game.

Amazing photos !

That Army/Wake Forest game has dominated the post weekend national sports shows.

Even one of my local sports broadcasts stopped talking about the game and spent about five minutes with a conversation about how
beautiful West Point really is.