KTBS and Collette are taking travelers on a journey through history as part of America 250, visiting the places where the United States was born. High on the cliffs overlooking the Hudson River, the United States Military Academy at West Point stands as a major piece of American history.

History of West Point

American soldiers first lived at West Point in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, but the government did not own the land yet. Seeing how important the location was, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton bought the property for the United States in 1790. To train officers for a growing army, President Thomas Jefferson officially started the academy in 1802. Its famous motto became: ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’ Before it was a school, West Point was a vital fort. Its most famous defense was the ‘Great Chain’ – a massive iron chain between 500 and 600 yards long that stretched across the Hudson River.

Over the years, West Point has educated many major American leaders. Two U.S. presidents – Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower—graduated from the school. The academy also shaped the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee ran West Point before the war began. The men he trained ended up fighting against each other as generals for both the North and the South.

Modern-Day West Point

Today, about 4,400 cadets live and train on campus. Looking down over the dorms is the Cadet Chapel, a tall building made of beautiful stone. Cadets are not required to go to church, but the building is a major landmark named in their honor. Inside, the chapel fits 1,500 people and features historic flags and stained-glass windows. The front entrance has heavy wood doors with decorative ironwork.

The chapel is also home to the largest chapel pipe organ in the world. It is over 100 years old and has more than 23,500 pipes. The smallest pipe is the size of a pencil, while the largest stands 32 feet tall.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.