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Military Academy, West Point

Pattern Category: Places

Series: Shell Border, Circular Center

Object Type: Dinner and Dessert Wares

Dimensions:

  • Length: 9.25 inches
  • Width: 7.5 inches

Description:

This tray illustrates West Point on the Hudson River.   It was long George Washington's desire to establish a national military academy but it was not until 1802 that Thomas Jefferson signed the act of Congress establishing the academy.  Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, known as the Father of West Point, was its superintendent 1817-1833 and put it on a firm academic footing, basing its curriculum on civil engineering.   USMA graduates were largely responsible for most of the construction of railways, roads, bridges and harbors in the U.S. during the first half of the 19th century.