Naval Academy Campus Walking Tour (Self Guided), Annapolis
Established in 1845 under George Bancroft, the US Naval Academy in Annapolis is the city's most prominent complex. Situated right at the confluence of Severn River and Chesapeake Bay, this prestigious institution, where future naval officers receive their education and training, has on its campus some truly magnificent structures.
At the heart of it stands Bancroft Hall, the largest dormitory in the United States (if not the whole world!) and a symbol of the Academy's unity and camaraderie. Nearby, the Temple Bell rings out, marking important events and gatherings within the campus community. The Naval Academy Chapel is a solemn place of worship, providing spiritual guidance to the midshipmen.
One of the most iconic landmarks on campus is the Herndon Monument, where each year, plebes (first-year students) work together to climb and replace a plebe's hat with a midshipman's hat, symbolizing their transition into the Brigade of Midshipmen. The Peggy Stewart House serves as a reminder of the Academy's historical ties, notably to the burning of the ship bearing the same name.
For those interested in naval history and artifacts, the Naval Academy Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, displaying a collection of naval memorabilia and artifacts. Mahan Hall hosts various academic and cultural events, housing historical artifacts while also serving as the venue for the midshipman theatrical company.
The Tripoli Monument commemorates the fallen heroes of the First Barbary War in the early 1800s, highlighting the Academy's commitment to honor and remember those who have served. The Naval Academy Observatory provides opportunities for students to explore the wonders of the universe and engage in astronomical research.
Finally, the Naval Academy Cemetery serves as a final resting place for those who have dedicated their lives in service to their country, offering a peaceful and reverent setting for reflection and remembrance.
A visit to the United States Naval Academy Campus in Annapolis is a chance to learn about its storied past and witness firsthand the commitment to excellence and service that defines this esteemed institution. Our self-guided walk is designed to help you with that.
At the heart of it stands Bancroft Hall, the largest dormitory in the United States (if not the whole world!) and a symbol of the Academy's unity and camaraderie. Nearby, the Temple Bell rings out, marking important events and gatherings within the campus community. The Naval Academy Chapel is a solemn place of worship, providing spiritual guidance to the midshipmen.
One of the most iconic landmarks on campus is the Herndon Monument, where each year, plebes (first-year students) work together to climb and replace a plebe's hat with a midshipman's hat, symbolizing their transition into the Brigade of Midshipmen. The Peggy Stewart House serves as a reminder of the Academy's historical ties, notably to the burning of the ship bearing the same name.
For those interested in naval history and artifacts, the Naval Academy Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, displaying a collection of naval memorabilia and artifacts. Mahan Hall hosts various academic and cultural events, housing historical artifacts while also serving as the venue for the midshipman theatrical company.
The Tripoli Monument commemorates the fallen heroes of the First Barbary War in the early 1800s, highlighting the Academy's commitment to honor and remember those who have served. The Naval Academy Observatory provides opportunities for students to explore the wonders of the universe and engage in astronomical research.
Finally, the Naval Academy Cemetery serves as a final resting place for those who have dedicated their lives in service to their country, offering a peaceful and reverent setting for reflection and remembrance.
A visit to the United States Naval Academy Campus in Annapolis is a chance to learn about its storied past and witness firsthand the commitment to excellence and service that defines this esteemed institution. Our self-guided walk is designed to help you with that.
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Naval Academy Campus Walking Tour Map
Guide Name: Naval Academy Campus Walking Tour
Guide Location: USA » Annapolis (See other walking tours in Annapolis)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 10
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Author: AudreyB
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: USA » Annapolis (See other walking tours in Annapolis)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 10
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Author: AudreyB
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Bancroft Hall
- Temple Bell
- Naval Academy Chapel
- Herndon Monument
- Peggy Stewart House
- Naval Academy Museum
- Mahan Hall
- Tripoli Monument
- Naval Academy Observatory
- Naval Academy Cemetery
1) Bancroft Hall
Bancroft Hall is the main dormitory for midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy and is widely considered the largest single college dormitory in the world. The central section was built between 1901 and 1906, with additional wings added through 1961 as the academy expanded. Named after historian and U.S. Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the building now houses about 4,400 midshipmen during their four years of study and military training.
The long granite and brick complex surrounds a large courtyard called Tecumseh Court. In the center stands a bronze statue that midshipmen call Tecumseh, a copy of a ship’s wooden figurehead representing the Native American leader Tamanend from the USS Delaware. Inside are dormitory rooms, study areas, offices, and facilities such as King Hall dining hall, a post office, bank, barber shop, and small stores, forming a small community within the building.
Bancroft Hall is also closely tied to many academy traditions. Midshipmen gather in Tecumseh Court for formations, inspections, and ceremonies during the school year. Students often toss pennies at the statue for good luck before exams, and it is sometimes painted before the Army–Navy football game. In August 2024, the Naval Academy began a major renovation program to update the building’s infrastructure and living spaces while preserving its historic structure.
The long granite and brick complex surrounds a large courtyard called Tecumseh Court. In the center stands a bronze statue that midshipmen call Tecumseh, a copy of a ship’s wooden figurehead representing the Native American leader Tamanend from the USS Delaware. Inside are dormitory rooms, study areas, offices, and facilities such as King Hall dining hall, a post office, bank, barber shop, and small stores, forming a small community within the building.
Bancroft Hall is also closely tied to many academy traditions. Midshipmen gather in Tecumseh Court for formations, inspections, and ceremonies during the school year. Students often toss pennies at the statue for good luck before exams, and it is sometimes painted before the Army–Navy football game. In August 2024, the Naval Academy began a major renovation program to update the building’s infrastructure and living spaces while preserving its historic structure.
2) Temple Bell
Temple Bell is a large bronze bell displayed on the grounds of the United States Naval Academy. Its history goes back to 1854, when it was presented to Commodore Matthew C. Perry during his mission to open Japan to trade. The bell came from Gokoku-ji Temple in the Ryukyu Kingdom and was originally cast in 1456. After Perry’s death in 1858, his widow Jane Slidell Perry donated it to the Naval Academy in early 1859.
The bell follows the design of traditional Japanese temple bells, with a wide rounded body and decorative bands cast into the bronze. Unlike Western bells that swing inside towers, it stays still and is struck from the outside with a wooden beam. At the academy, it became a tradition to ring the bell after football victories over the Army Black Knights football and during major national events such as the end of the Second World War in 1945.
In 1987 the original bell was returned to Okinawa after officials there asked for its return. Later that year it was sent back to Gokoku-ji Temple. Soon afterward, the people of Okinawa presented the Naval Academy with an exact replica as a gesture of friendship. The bell displayed today is that replacement, placed in the same location where the historic bell once stood.
The bell follows the design of traditional Japanese temple bells, with a wide rounded body and decorative bands cast into the bronze. Unlike Western bells that swing inside towers, it stays still and is struck from the outside with a wooden beam. At the academy, it became a tradition to ring the bell after football victories over the Army Black Knights football and during major national events such as the end of the Second World War in 1945.
In 1987 the original bell was returned to Okinawa after officials there asked for its return. Later that year it was sent back to Gokoku-ji Temple. Soon afterward, the people of Okinawa presented the Naval Academy with an exact replica as a gesture of friendship. The bell displayed today is that replacement, placed in the same location where the historic bell once stood.
3) Naval Academy Chapel (must see)
Naval Academy Chapel is the main place of worship at the United States Naval Academy. Completed in 1908 and designed by architect Ernest Flagg, it replaced an earlier mid-nineteenth-century chapel that had become too small for the growing number of midshipmen. Since then, the building has been used for religious services, ceremonies, weddings, and memorial events connected with naval life.
The chapel follows the Beaux-Arts style used for many academy buildings of that time. Its most visible feature is the large dome above the campus. The dome was first covered with decorated terra cotta, but this was removed in 1928 after pieces began falling, and a copper covering was completed in 1929. The original 1908 building seated about 1,200–1,600 people, and an expansion by architect Paul Philippe Cret between 1938 and 1940 increased the capacity to about 2,500.
Beneath the chapel is the crypt of John Paul Jones, a naval officer of the American Revolutionary War often called the “father of the American Navy.” His remains were discovered in Paris in 1905 and placed in the crypt on January 26, 1913. The black-and-white marble tomb, designed by architect Whitney Warren, was inspired by Napoleon’s tomb at Les Invalides in Paris.
Inside the chapel visitors can see stained-glass windows, memorial plaques, and historic naval flags connected with naval service. Among the notable artworks is a stained-glass window created by Tiffany Studios. Protestant and Catholic services are regularly held here for midshipmen and academy staff. The building also continues to host ceremonies, concerts, and guided visits that allow guests to explore both the main hall and the crypt.
The chapel follows the Beaux-Arts style used for many academy buildings of that time. Its most visible feature is the large dome above the campus. The dome was first covered with decorated terra cotta, but this was removed in 1928 after pieces began falling, and a copper covering was completed in 1929. The original 1908 building seated about 1,200–1,600 people, and an expansion by architect Paul Philippe Cret between 1938 and 1940 increased the capacity to about 2,500.
Beneath the chapel is the crypt of John Paul Jones, a naval officer of the American Revolutionary War often called the “father of the American Navy.” His remains were discovered in Paris in 1905 and placed in the crypt on January 26, 1913. The black-and-white marble tomb, designed by architect Whitney Warren, was inspired by Napoleon’s tomb at Les Invalides in Paris.
Inside the chapel visitors can see stained-glass windows, memorial plaques, and historic naval flags connected with naval service. Among the notable artworks is a stained-glass window created by Tiffany Studios. Protestant and Catholic services are regularly held here for midshipmen and academy staff. The building also continues to host ceremonies, concerts, and guided visits that allow guests to explore both the main hall and the crypt.
4) Herndon Monument
Herndon Monument is a tall granite obelisk honoring Commander William Lewis Herndon, a U.S. naval officer who died in 1857. He commanded the steamship Central America, which was caught in a hurricane while sailing from Panama to New York. Herndon helped organize the evacuation and made sure many passengers were rescued, but he chose to remain on the ship as it sank. His actions were widely respected in the navy.
The monument was erected in 1860 and presented to the U.S. Naval Academy by the Class of 1860. It stands about 21 feet (around 6.4 meters) tall and is made of grey granite blocks. The design is simple, like many memorials from the nineteenth century. One side of the stone is carved with the name “Herndon,” while another records the date of the shipwreck, September 12, 1857. Over time, the monument also became connected with a well-known student tradition.
Each spring near the end of the school year, first-year midshipmen take part in the Herndon Monument Climb. Students form a human pyramid to reach the top and replace a white “dixie cup” hat with an upper-class hat. The climbing tradition dates to 1940, while the monument began being covered with grease in 1949 to make it harder. The hat replacement was added in 1962. The climb can last from a few minutes to several hours, and many people gather to watch.
The monument was erected in 1860 and presented to the U.S. Naval Academy by the Class of 1860. It stands about 21 feet (around 6.4 meters) tall and is made of grey granite blocks. The design is simple, like many memorials from the nineteenth century. One side of the stone is carved with the name “Herndon,” while another records the date of the shipwreck, September 12, 1857. Over time, the monument also became connected with a well-known student tradition.
Each spring near the end of the school year, first-year midshipmen take part in the Herndon Monument Climb. Students form a human pyramid to reach the top and replace a white “dixie cup” hat with an upper-class hat. The climbing tradition dates to 1940, while the monument began being covered with grease in 1949 to make it harder. The hat replacement was added in 1962. The climb can last from a few minutes to several hours, and many people gather to watch.
5) Peggy Stewart House
Peggy Stewart House is a historic brick home built in the early 1760s for Thomas Rutland. A few years later it was purchased by merchant Anthony Stewart. The house later became linked to a protest shortly before the American Revolution, when many colonists opposed British taxes on imported tea under the Tea Act.
In October 1774 the ship Peggy Stewart, owned by Anthony Stewart, arrived carrying taxed tea. Stewart paid the tax so the rest of his cargo, including indentured servants, could be unloaded. This angered many residents who opposed British taxation. A crowd gathered outside his house and set up a gallows as a threat. To calm the situation, Stewart agreed to burn his ship in the harbor on October 19. The event later became known as the “Annapolis Tea Party.”
The house reflects the Georgian architectural style that was common in the eighteenth century. It is a two-and-a-half-story brick building with a balanced five-bay front and a central hallway with rooms on both sides. The current roof shape and a large brick rear wing were added during a remodeling in 1894. The house remains connected with protests that helped lead to the American Revolution.
In October 1774 the ship Peggy Stewart, owned by Anthony Stewart, arrived carrying taxed tea. Stewart paid the tax so the rest of his cargo, including indentured servants, could be unloaded. This angered many residents who opposed British taxation. A crowd gathered outside his house and set up a gallows as a threat. To calm the situation, Stewart agreed to burn his ship in the harbor on October 19. The event later became known as the “Annapolis Tea Party.”
The house reflects the Georgian architectural style that was common in the eighteenth century. It is a two-and-a-half-story brick building with a balanced five-bay front and a central hallway with rooms on both sides. The current roof shape and a large brick rear wing were added during a remodeling in 1894. The house remains connected with protests that helped lead to the American Revolution.
6) Naval Academy Museum (must see)
The Naval Academy Museum is located inside Preble Hall at the United States Naval Academy. It was founded in 1845 to help educate midshipmen by collecting objects related to naval history and life at sea. Over time the collection grew and became one of the most important naval history museums in the United States. Today it is open to visitors who want to learn more about ships, naval exploration, and the development of the U.S. Navy.
One of the main highlights is the large collection of ship models. Some models date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and were once used by European navies to study ship design. A well-known part of the museum is the Rogers Collection, which includes about 108 detailed ship models. These models show how ships changed over time, from wooden sailing vessels to modern naval ships.
The museum also has exhibits about important moments in naval history. Displays explain events such as early ocean exploration, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the world wars. Visitors can see uniforms, navigation tools, weapons, paintings, and objects connected with sailors and naval missions. Another section focuses on the history of the Naval Academy and how officers have been trained there.
The museum also displays the Beverley R. Robinson Collection of naval prints and paintings, one of the largest collections of its kind. Many artworks show sea battles, voyages, and everyday life on ships. Together with the ship models and historical objects, these exhibits help visitors understand how naval technology and life at sea have changed over the centuries.
One of the main highlights is the large collection of ship models. Some models date from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and were once used by European navies to study ship design. A well-known part of the museum is the Rogers Collection, which includes about 108 detailed ship models. These models show how ships changed over time, from wooden sailing vessels to modern naval ships.
The museum also has exhibits about important moments in naval history. Displays explain events such as early ocean exploration, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the world wars. Visitors can see uniforms, navigation tools, weapons, paintings, and objects connected with sailors and naval missions. Another section focuses on the history of the Naval Academy and how officers have been trained there.
The museum also displays the Beverley R. Robinson Collection of naval prints and paintings, one of the largest collections of its kind. Many artworks show sea battles, voyages, and everyday life on ships. Together with the ship models and historical objects, these exhibits help visitors understand how naval technology and life at sea have changed over the centuries.
7) Mahan Hall
Mahan Hall is an academic and cultural building at the United States Naval Academy, first occupied in 1907. It is named after Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan, a naval officer and historian whose ideas about sea power influenced naval strategy worldwide. In 1890 he published The Influence of Sea Power upon History, which argued that strong navies were important for protecting trade and national interests.
The building was designed by architect Ernest Flagg as part of an early twentieth-century rebuilding plan for the academy campus. It follows the Beaux-Arts style, with red brick walls, light stone trim, and large arched windows. A tall clock tower rises above the central quadrangle. From 1907 to 1973, the building served as the academy’s main library, and the former reading room, the Hart Room, is now used as a lounge and meeting space.
Today Mahan Hall is used for several academic and cultural activities. It contains a large auditorium used for lectures, ceremonies, and performances and is home to the USNA Masqueraders, the academy’s theater group. Visitors can also see historical naval artifacts, including captured enemy flags such as a British Royal Standard taken at the Battle of York in 1813.
The building was designed by architect Ernest Flagg as part of an early twentieth-century rebuilding plan for the academy campus. It follows the Beaux-Arts style, with red brick walls, light stone trim, and large arched windows. A tall clock tower rises above the central quadrangle. From 1907 to 1973, the building served as the academy’s main library, and the former reading room, the Hart Room, is now used as a lounge and meeting space.
Today Mahan Hall is used for several academic and cultural activities. It contains a large auditorium used for lectures, ceremonies, and performances and is home to the USNA Masqueraders, the academy’s theater group. Visitors can also see historical naval artifacts, including captured enemy flags such as a British Royal Standard taken at the Battle of York in 1813.
8) Tripoli Monument
The Tripoli Monument honors six American naval officers who died during the First Barbary War (1801–1805). The conflict began when rulers in North Africa demanded payments from American merchant ships in the Mediterranean. When the United States refused, fighting followed, and the monument was created to remember the officers who died during this early overseas conflict.
The memorial was carved in 1806 in Livorno, Italy, from white Carrara marble by sculptor Giovanni Carlo Micali. It was installed at the Washington Navy Yard in 1808, moved to the U.S. Capitol in 1831, and transferred to the United States Naval Academy in 1860. It is considered the oldest military monument in the United States and the first dedicated to the U.S. Navy.
The monument rises as a tall rostral column, a design based on ancient Roman victory monuments decorated with ship prows. At the top stands an American eagle. Around the base are marble figures representing ideas such as History, Commerce, America (often shown as Columbia), and Victory or Glory. The names of the six officers are carved into the monument. Visitors often pause here while exploring the academy grounds and learning about the early history of the American navy.
The memorial was carved in 1806 in Livorno, Italy, from white Carrara marble by sculptor Giovanni Carlo Micali. It was installed at the Washington Navy Yard in 1808, moved to the U.S. Capitol in 1831, and transferred to the United States Naval Academy in 1860. It is considered the oldest military monument in the United States and the first dedicated to the U.S. Navy.
The monument rises as a tall rostral column, a design based on ancient Roman victory monuments decorated with ship prows. At the top stands an American eagle. Around the base are marble figures representing ideas such as History, Commerce, America (often shown as Columbia), and Victory or Glory. The names of the six officers are carved into the monument. Visitors often pause here while exploring the academy grounds and learning about the early history of the American navy.
9) Naval Academy Observatory
The Naval Academy Observatory was dedicated in 1991 as part of the United States Naval Academy’s science and navigation facilities, funded by the Class of 1941 for the 50th anniversary of their graduation. The academy’s connection with astronomy is much older, as its first observatory was built between 1850 and 1854 to support the study of celestial navigation used by naval officers at sea.
That original observatory building was demolished in 1909 during a major campus reconstruction led by architect Ernest Flagg. For more than eighty years afterward, the academy operated without a dedicated observatory building. The modern facility built in 1991 restored a permanent place for astronomical observation and teaching, continuing the academy’s tradition of linking navigation training with the study of the night sky.
Inside the observatory is a 7.75-inch refracting telescope built by Alvan Clark & Sons in the 1850s, later restored and installed in the current building. Today the facility is used for astronomy courses, where midshipmen observe stars, planets, and constellations while learning how navigators once used the sky to determine position at sea. It also supports astronomy club activities, small research projects, and occasional evening viewing sessions for visitors.
That original observatory building was demolished in 1909 during a major campus reconstruction led by architect Ernest Flagg. For more than eighty years afterward, the academy operated without a dedicated observatory building. The modern facility built in 1991 restored a permanent place for astronomical observation and teaching, continuing the academy’s tradition of linking navigation training with the study of the night sky.
Inside the observatory is a 7.75-inch refracting telescope built by Alvan Clark & Sons in the 1850s, later restored and installed in the current building. Today the facility is used for astronomy courses, where midshipmen observe stars, planets, and constellations while learning how navigators once used the sky to determine position at sea. It also supports astronomy club activities, small research projects, and occasional evening viewing sessions for visitors.
10) Naval Academy Cemetery
Naval Academy Cemetery is a historic burial ground connected with the United States Naval Academy. It was established in 1868 on land known as Strawberry Hill, acquired as the academy expanded after the Civil War. The cemetery became the burial place for naval officers, midshipmen, faculty members, and their families, and it honors people connected with important moments in the history of the United States Navy.
Many graves belong to officers and sailors who served in conflicts such as the Civil War, the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. Several Medal of Honor recipients and former academy superintendents are buried here. The cemetery also includes memorials to naval expeditions and accidents at sea, including the Jeannette Monument from 1890, which honors members of the Jeannette Arctic Expedition who died during an Arctic exploration.
The cemetery is arranged with paths and rows of white headstones, a layout typical of nineteenth-century military burial grounds. Some graves have simple military markers, while others have larger monuments placed by families or naval groups. Trees and open lawns create a quiet setting. The cemetery is still used for burials and helps visitors learn about more than a century of naval service and exploration.
Many graves belong to officers and sailors who served in conflicts such as the Civil War, the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. Several Medal of Honor recipients and former academy superintendents are buried here. The cemetery also includes memorials to naval expeditions and accidents at sea, including the Jeannette Monument from 1890, which honors members of the Jeannette Arctic Expedition who died during an Arctic exploration.
The cemetery is arranged with paths and rows of white headstones, a layout typical of nineteenth-century military burial grounds. Some graves have simple military markers, while others have larger monuments placed by families or naval groups. Trees and open lawns create a quiet setting. The cemetery is still used for burials and helps visitors learn about more than a century of naval service and exploration.
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