Now the location of the United States Military Academy at West Point, this high bluff commanding the approaches to the northern end of the Hudson Highlands was pivotal in the fight for American independence.

Early in the war, the Colonial Army put most of its efforts into the creation of Forts Clinton and Montgomery further south on the river. But after they were overrun by the British in October of 1777, the focus of the Highlands defensive positions shifted north to West Point.

“Fortress West Point” refers to a series of major fortifications reaching from Peekskill Bay up to Plum Point. The center of the command was from Forts Putnam and Clinton, (second fort with that name) located at West Point.

As you visit West Point via the tour bus, they will take you to what is now called “Trophy Point.” Sections of the original Great Chain that blocked the Hudson are displayed here. And from the overlook platform, you can see for yourself how the Colonial Army was able to control the Hudson from this most strategic location.

From Trophy Point, across the river is Constitution Island, site of Fort Constitution. Although a much lower bluff, when combined with Fort Clinton, roughly located on the point of West Point, and Fort Putnam, located atop the hill behind you, they formed an impregnable wall against which even the might of the British Navy couldn’t prevail.

To protect the river from the north, Washington had the cheveau de friese stretched between Plum Point and Pollopel Island, current location of Bannerman’s Castle. Pieces of this floating structure can be seen at Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh. A chain and boom were thrown across the river from West Point to Constitution island as well, preventing shipping from slipping past the point.

Once the battlements were erected and fortified, the British were never again able to entertain the idea of seizing control of the Hudson River and thereby splitting the colonies. Had they been able to accomplish this, the war would have been lost to the Americans. The Hudson, and especially the Highlands, were the primary route of commerce and communication between the colonies of New England and the Middle and Southern colonies. Kings Ferry between Verplank and Jones Point in Peekskill Bay, was the principle crossing of the Hudson.

These days, visiting West Point is highly structured. As it is a functioning military post, and home of the oldest military academy in America, security has been drastically tightened since September 2001. Access to “the Point” is now strictly via tour buses from the Visitor Center just outside the gate in Highland Falls. The tour is an enjoyable ride allowing you to visit several locations on the base. The Visitors Center is open daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Call (845) 938-2638 for information. Gift Shop's Telephone Number: (845) 446-3085. To take the tour, you MUST HAVE A PHOTO ID!

After your tour, take the time to visit the West Point Museum located just to the south of the Visitor Center. All visitors to the United States Military Academy are encouraged to tour the Museum to view what is considered to be the oldest and largest diversified public collection of miltaria in the Western Hemisphere. There are many displays and thousands of artifacts chronicling the history of the Army, from the Revolution up until today. Admission to the museum is free.

The West Point Museum is located directly behind the Visitors Center. The museum is in the renovated Olmsted Hall at Pershing Center on the grounds of the former Ladycliff College. The grounds were purchased by West Point after the college closed in the early 1980s. The building is named after the museum's primary donor, Major General George H. Olmsted, Class of 1922.

The museum’s collections represent all major categories of military study from arms, cannon and artillery to uniforms, military art and objects reflecting West Point’s history. Originally opened in 1854, the West Point Museum is the oldest and largest military museum in the country. It contains some of our most interesting national military treasures and one of the finest collections of military small arms available for public viewing. Every American armed conflict is represented in the 135 exhibits. An additional gallery portrays the history of the United States Army during peacetime and its role as a formative nation builder of our country. West Point’s history during and after the Revolutionary War, as well as the institutional history of the Military Academy, are traced in the West Point gallery devoted to the school, the cadet and the officer. The museum also provides exhibits in Thayer Hall to support the Department of History cadet curriculum with exhibit themes which range from ancient to modern civilizations.

The West Point Museum is open daily, with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Operating hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. For additional information, call (845) 938-2203/3590.