A wooded bluff jutting into New York’s Hudson River was such a crucial spot that fortifications were ordered to be built there soon after the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775.
Strategically set at a narrow, S-shaped curve in the river, those fortifications would become Fortress West Point and be declared the “most important post in America” by George Washington — a critical defense to prevent the British from controlling the river and dividing the new nation.
A 65-ton iron chain made sure of that, stretched across the Hudson at the site to block British warships.
Thus began the storied history of West Point, where the U.S. Military Academy was established in 1802 and the wartime garrison remained, eventually becoming the country’s oldest continuously occupied military post. Army leaders are forged in the academy’s granite buildings, with about 1,000 cadets graduating as officers each year.
Location / State: West Point, New York, about 55 miles north of New York City on west side of the Hudson River.
Why it matters: West Point was so vital to the American independence fight that the British enlisted its treasonous commander, Benedict Arnold, to help them capture it. (Their plot failed.) Revolution-era vestiges are there today, including a restored Fort Putnam from the original fortress and links from the Great Chain displayed at Trophy Point.
What to see today: Take in the majestic Hudson River view from Trophy Point, where those chain links and captured enemy artillery pieces are displayed. Check out centuries of military history at the West Point Museum. Stroll the campus or book a guided tour through https://westpointtours.com/.
Ask a local: Fuel up for your visit with a breakfast omelet or lunchtime burger or wrap at Andy’s, a stalwart diner that’s been serving locals and tourists for decades on Main Street in Highland Falls, just outside the gates of West Point.
Plan your visit
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Come to West Point to see George Washington’s ‘most important post’
Reporting by Chris McKenna, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
