west point tourist center

U.S. Military Academy Visitors Center

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2107 New South Post

West Point, NY 10996

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The Frederic V. Malek West Point Visitors Center provides an excellent starting point for all visitors to the U.S. Military Academy. It is home to West Point Tours , the Visitors Control Center, Army West Point Gift Shop, and next door to the West Point Museum . This is where visitors requiring access to West Point and not taking a guided tour can go to get their Local Access Cards. …

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United States Military Academy, West Point West Point Visitor's Center

Open Daily 0900-1645

Description

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WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Introduction

• Where Is West Point Military Academy?
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• Getting There – Directions to the Post
• Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
• West Point Military Academy Visitor Center
• West Point Military Academy DEERS Office
• West Point Military Academy Gate Hours
• West Point Military Academy Commissary
• West Point Military Academy Exchange
• West Point Military Academy Barber Shops
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• West Point Military Academy Library
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• Where Should I Live Near West Point Military Academy?
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• Things to Do Near West Point Military Academy

Where is West Point Military Academy?

West Point Military Academy

West Point Military Academy Map

West point directions, flights to west point, amtrak station near west point, ny, port authority bus terminal, driving directions from new york city.

West Point Transportation Office

Monday through Friday:

Entering West Point and Post Amenities

Check-in procedures for incoming personnel.

West Point Visitor Center

West Point DEERS Office

West Point DEERS Office Hours

Monday through Thursday:

West Point Gate Hours

Thayer Gate:

Stony Lonesome Gate:

Washington Gate:

West Point Commissary

West Point Commissary Hours

Tuesday through Sunday:

West Point Exchange

West Point Exchange Hours

West Point Barber Shops

1. Exchange Barber Shop

2. Heritage Barber Shop

3. Wolfman Jays Barber Shop & Shave Parlor

West Point Post Office

U.S. Post Office

West Point Finance Office

West Point Finance Office Hours

Closed Tuesday:

West Point Legal Office

Office of the Staff Judge Advocate

West Point Legal Office Hours

West Point Library

West Point Hotels

1. The Thayer Hotel

2. Bear Mountain Inn and Overlook Lodge

3. Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Hot Tip: Download MyBaseGuide’s West Point Military Academy Military Relocation Guide for information about hotels nearby.

Where Should I Live Near West Point?

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Hot Tip: Look for West Point Military Academy homes and apartments for rent or sale, and find BAH, PCS, TLA & ETS military housing information at AHRN.com .

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Exploring Military History at the West Point Museum

It’s likely you know West Point as the home of the United States Military Academy. However, this spot in Orange County, New York has a fascinating military history dating back long before the academy, which makes it the perfect spot for one of the country’s best military museums.

The West Point Museum is located on the southern end of the academy adjacent to the small village of Highland Falls and is outside the security controls that exist for the base and academy itself.

This four-story museum is totally free to visit and features thousands of items related to the military history of the United States (and the Army in particular) since West Point was first set up as a military garrison during the Revolutionary War. However, they also have artifacts dating back thousands of years showing how ancient cultures waged war.

As a history buff, I was excited to check out this spot on a beautiful autumn day. Even though it wasn’t a weekend or in the middle of summer, this was quite a busy spot, so make sure to arrive early or parking might be an issue.

The West Point Museum is located within Olmstead Hall, a stately stone building on a hillside above the Hudson River. Though it was founded in 1854, the museum has only been in this location since 1989. Prior to that, the museum was located in several different buildings on campus over the course of its history.

There are four floors of exhibits here with six total galleries, and there is enough here to keep you occupied for a few hours if you take time to look at every display.

I started my visit on the first floor in the History of West Point Gallery. This gallery highlights the history of this area starting with the first military garrison here during the Revolutionary War through to the mid-20th century.

The most fascinating item on display here, at least to me, was the portrait of George Washington by Stuart Gilbert. This is one of the most well-known images of Washington, so seeing it in person was quite neat.

Of course, there were also a ton of other really interesting artifacts in this section ranging from a historic look at cadet uniforms to the sword of often-overlook Revolutionary War general Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who oversaw some of the earliest fortifications at West Point.

The first floor also includes the History of Warfare Gallery. This is a subject that is part of every cadet’s courseload, so it makes sense that they would have an exhibition highlighting it on display here.

I found this to be one of the most interesting areas of the museum because it offered a fascinating look into historic conflicts, including some from ancient times. The dioramas of ancient battles were especially interesting.

In this area, there were also some really neat artifacts including suits of armor, a Persian dagger from 900 B.C., and even an Egyptian bow from 2,000 B.C. There were also modern items including Hitler’s pistols and Napoleon’s sword and pistols.

The second floor of the museum also contains two galleries: the History of the U.S. Army Gallery and the American Wars Gallery. There is a fair bit of overlap in the subjects covered here, though the History of the U.S. Army Gallery looks at things from a more personal and practical side while the American Wars Gallery gives more of an overview of the major conflicts that the Army has participated in over the years.

The History of the U.S. Army Gallery features a large number of cases highlighting the uniforms and equipment used by troops throughout the history of the country. There is also a discussion of some of the minor conflicts that the Army was involved in, including the Mormon War and conflicts with Native Americans.

While this gallery presents a lot of great information, it uncritically covers topics like conflicts with Native Americans and mid-century segregation in the Army. Given that this is the museum of an educational institution, it would have been nice to have seen some framing discussing some of the missteps of the country and the Army in the past, and how they have grown from these issues into the present day.

Not that I expect the museum to cast the Army in a bad light, but to not discuss the negative aspects of the subjects at all (and to actually use some language in the Indian Wars section that struck me as implied negativity towards Native Americans) is a missed opportunity, in my opinion.

Across the hall, the American Wars Gallery primarily covers the larger conflicts that the Army was involved in from the Revolutionary War through to the present day. Of all the sections in the museum, this is the one that I found the most interesting, in part because there were so many amazing artifacts on display.

These artifacts included Custard’s last dispatch, a life mask of Sitting Bull, General Dwight Eisenhower’s pistol, a Confederate torpedo, and items used by General Ulysses S. Grant. Seeing these items on display really brought the events discussed here to life, and made the experience quite memorable.

The basement levels of the museum included two small galleries: the Small Weapons Gallery and the Large Weapons Gallery.

The Small Weapons Gallery contains hundreds of hand weapons used throughout combat history including primitive stone daggers, African throwing stars, and a large collection of guns, some dating back to the early 17th century. I really enjoyed exploring the space and seeing how weapons varied around the world from similar time periods and how they changed over the years.

The Large Weapons Gallery is located below the Small Weapons Gallery, and you can actually look down on it from the latter, which is a neat viewing experience.

Down here, you’ll find a collection of larger items including artillery from World War 1 and the Civil War, tanks, and several other large pieces of equipment. Most notable, though was the case used to ship the Fat Man Atomic Bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki during World War 2.

Overall, while I found a few quibbles with the language used on the signs, I found the West Point Museum to be a fascinating spot, and the fact that it’s free to visit makes it a must-visit destination in the Hudson Valley for anyone that is interested in history.

Even better, combine a visit to the museum with a stop at the West Point Visitor Center next door.

This is also a free museum and features a short video on the history of the Army and West Point, as well as a look into what life is like for cadets at West Point. There is also a great view of the Hudson River from the lobby.

You can also leave from here on guided tours of the academy (which is typically the only way to explore the grounds as a civilian). While I haven’t had time to do this tour, it’s definitely something I’d like to do in the future.

Looking for more places to visit nearby? Check out Bannerman Castle , Motorcyclepedia , the Stony Point Battlefield , and Fort Montgomery State Historic Site .

West Point Museum

See map below for other area attractions., more nearby places worth exploring.

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Exploring the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the Hudson Valley

Checking Out the Amazing Views from the Walkway Over the Hudson in Poughkeepsie

Touring the Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, NY

Find more things to do in the hudson valley.

Jim Cheney is the creator of Uncovering New York. After spending 5.5 years exploring Pennsylvania, Jim discovered a love for New York and is excited to spend time exploring this great state and uncovering the best things to do here.

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ONLINE RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED AND CLOSE 1 HOUR BEFORE THE TOUR START TIME

WE DO NOT TAKE RESERVATIONS BY PHONE 

For general information regarding West Point, contact Public Affairs at 845-938-2638

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West Point Story

Quick Details

• User Ages: All ages
• Hour Glass Duration: 1 hour 15 mins

Join us for a Tour of the United States Military Academy At West Point

Hear the story of west point and the united states military academy beginning in 1778 during the revolutionary war, to the present role of the united states military academy as the premier training facility for leaders who mold the future of our country. along the way, historical figures such as george washington, thomas jefferson, dwight eisenhower, and even benedict arnold help bring the story of west point and our nation to life. the bus tour makes stops at trophy point, battle monument, the plain and the cadet chapel..

​This tour requires easy walking and visitors spend approximately 1 hour off the bus at the various stops, most of which are outdoors. We encourage guests to bring water and take measures to protect themselves from the elements.  While a rare instance, being an active duty army post, tour times and access to venues within West Point are subject to change without notice. There are no restroom stops and food is not permitted on the tour. All tours are conducted in English. 

All tours originate and end in the parking lot of the Fred V. Malek Visitors Center in Highland Falls, NY. GPS directions are included in your confirmation. 

Please check the calendar for availability. If your selected date shows no tour times it means it’s in the future and you should continue to check the calendar, or it’s currently not available for reservations; has sold out; not being held due to a West Point special event; or it’s a Saturday of a home Army football game www.goarmysports.com

ALL SALES ARE FINAL This includes but is not limited to feeling ill,  arriving late or for the wrong day or time, forgetting ID, not passing the background check, adverse weather unless cancelled by West Point, and etc. Reservations are specifically for the day and time selected and paid for. Guests who arrive for a tour other than the one they reserved will need to make an additional, paid reservation. Please review the Reservations Required tab below for additional information.

• Chevron down Reservations Required click here

There are no in person ticket sales. Reservations MUST be made online. Same day online reservations are available however, a tour time will close once sold out or 1 hour before the start time to allow for the West Point security background checks.

Please check the calendar for availability on the the days you wish to tour. Select the time and proceed with the reservation . Once payment is completed you will receive a confirmation email with your QR tickets. All QR tickets will show the reservation in the point of contacts name however, if you look at your email you will notice all guests and their security information listed. 

We recommend all guests plan to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your tour start time as we do not hold buses and do not reassign reservations for a missed tour. This additional time can be used to view the displays in the Visitors Center and Museum. We do not have wait-lists.

Reservations are non-refundable and non-exchangeable unless a tour is canceled due to adverse weather and/or a decision by West Point. Guests who are ill, miss their reserved time, arrive on the wrong day, and etc., will need to make a paid reservation for a new tour.  **All sales are final. Please review these terms of service during your reservation process.** 

• Chevron down Security Background Check and Identification Process click here

WEST POINT SECURITY BACKGROUND CHECK: West Point is an active duty military post. All guests are required to submit accurate government issued identification (see below) information during the reservation process which security will use to run a background check.  We recommend planning to arrive 30-45 minutes in advance and visiting security in the basement of the Visitors Center if you have concerns regarding passing the background check. **Please do not email or call us asking to correct improperly completed information.** Reservations will be cancelled and a gift card issued to make a new reservation if information is missing or inputted incorrectly and a new reservation will need to be made.

IDENTIFICATION :  US Military Security requires everyone 18 years old and above to input valid, government issued photo ID (such as a US Driver’s License, permit, military ID, DMV ID, or passport) information during the online reservation process for the background check.  **All guests must also present this same ID while boarding the bus.** No photocopies accepted and failure to provide the proper ID information or ID in person will result in being denied a tour with no refund.  Foreign Nationals must provide passport information and bring their original passports with visa or ESTA if applicable.

Security will deny access to West Point based on any of the following reasons.

• A claimed identify that cannot be verified based on the reasonable belief that the person submitted fraudulent identity information in the attempt to gain access.
• Current arrest warrant in NCIC, regardless of the offense or violation.
• Current bar from entry or access to a Federal installation or facility.
• Conviction of crimes encompassing sexual assault, armed robbery, rape, child molestation, production or possession of child pornography, trafficking in humans, or drug possession with intent to sell or distribute.
• Conviction for espionage, sabotage, sedition, treason, terrorism, or murder.
• Being a registered sex offender.
• Felony conviction within the last ten years regardless of the offense or violation.
• Felony conviction for a firearms or explosives violation regardless of when the conviction occurred.
• Engaged in acts or activities designed to overthrow the U.S. Government by force.
• Been identified in the NCIC KST file or TSDB report as known to be, or is suspected of being, a terrorist or belonging to an organization with known links to terrorism or support of terrorist activity. Installation access control personnel will strictly follow the FBI’s published engagement protocols.

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