CEC Essay: West Point Museum Visit
On my most recent visit to West Point Military Academy, I had the opportunity to visit our country's most prestigious military museum. As a scout I attended West Point's Camporees and camped on the cadet’s training grounds at West Point's Lake Frederick. I also participated in an orienteering course at Trophy point, where I first saw the famous cannon exhibit, and numerous statues and monuments. However, during my visits, I never had the opportunity to visit the West Point Museum.
On my first visit to West Point Military Academy, I was astounded by the huge statue of George Washington that stands fittingly in front of the parade field, where West Point Cadets graduate each year. While serving as the President of the United States, Washington who is known as "the conceptual founder" of the academy was the first to propose a national military academy. However, it wasn't established until 1802, when President Thomas Jefferson signed an Act of Congress launching the post as a military academy. At last, I found the time to visit the museum! While the collection of artifacts is mainly used for cadet academic instruction, the collection also educated a college freshman, like me, who is studying US History. I was able to appreciate the exhibits and connect the artifacts to the class material and lessons. I found the exhibits and the stories behind the artifacts the most remarkable.
Initially I was unaware that West Point is the oldest continually operational military post in the United States. I was impressed to learn that our country's most recognized generals; Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton, Dwight D. Eisenhower and H. Norman Schwarzkopf attended and gr...
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...is to “Preserve America’s Military Heritage” and to “educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.” Another part of the mission is to educate all Americans and visitors about how America has upheld its freedom for over 200 years. In today’s world, with our battle to defeat terrorism and the turmoil in other nations, the museum and the academcy is good place to find inspiration and American pride. With that say, I think the directors of West Point Museum are accomplishing their goal and holding strong to their mission. I can't wait to go back and learn more about our country’s history and the impact wars had and still have on our world.
Stewart R. W. (2005). American Military History (Vol. 1). The United States Army and the
There are three divisions in the museum. They are the center, west wing and east wing. The different gallery in the center are Dub and Mozelle Richardson Theater, The End of the Trail, The Museum Store, Prosperity Junction, The Atherton Garden, The Norma Sutherland Garden, and Children’s Cowboy Corral. The different galleries in the west wing are Canyon Princess, Grace B. Kerr Changing Exhibition Gallery, Arthur and Shifra Silberman Gallery of Native American Art, William S. and Ann Atherton Art of the America West Gallery, The Weitzenhoffer Gallery of Fine American Firearms, Native American Gallery, Western Performances Gallery, American Cowboy Gallery, The Joe Grandee Museum of the Frontier West, American Rodeo Gallery, The Browne Family Great Plains Coca-Cola Pavilion, the Remuda. The different galleries in the east wing are Nona Jean Hulsey Rumsey Art Education Center, Abraham Lincoln, Robert and Grace Eldridge Gallery, S.B. “Burk” Burnett Board Room, Sam Noble Special Events Center, Dining on Persimmon Hill, Western States Plaza, the Jack and Phoebe Cooke Gardens. The exhibits are easily comprehended a...
Having a place to take a glance at the beauty of history or observe similar things of your own interest is very nice, a museum does the job just right. Many things must be considered before a person can responsibly and safely secure a new work of art or an artifact for a museum. Cost, variety and safety are the first three factor that comes to mind when are dealing with artifacts that displayed in a museum. Is important to be cautious when we are dealing with art works, not to damage or misplace them so our posterity have a chance to look at what we looked at.
At the entry of the museum, there were several cases that showed how gold was used as status symbols for the rich. One case had forks, spoons, knives and goblets made of gold in it that were used by royalty. As you move through the museum, there were pictures and plaques about the history of gold and other gold mines from the same era. The museum also housed tools, pans and several large pieces of machinery that was used in the mining process. At the end of the museum, there is a replica of the seventeen pound gold rock that was found by Conrad Reed. Overall the museum was set up well and had some great artifacts, but personally a guided tour would have been better than having to read all the information
Since its inception in 1775, as the Continental Army which transitioned to the Legion of the United States in 1791 and finally to the United Sates Army officially in 1796 we as a force have been the oldest and largest force among the branches. We have fought in many small and large campaigns. Along the way we as a force have innovated the advancements of culture; like the internet, the microwave oven, and antibodies. But one small thing remains underdeveloped. The credential that we hold compared to our civilian and branch counterparts.
I've visited the Carnegie Museum of Natural History here in Pittsburgh. I decided to take a look at the Egyptian exhibit specifically the Walton wall of ancient Egypt. The exhibit it well put together and organized there's a lot of labeling and I'll plenty of different artifacts to see. They have a picture that shows you the chronology of ancient Egypt with the different periods and dynasties. This picture includes all of the dates so you can see what dynasties were alive in Egypt at what time and match it up with the artifacts that they have on the walls. This one picture is one of the most important and informative pieces in the entire exhibit. They also have many pieces that directly correlate with their everyday culture. This ranges anywhere
One pleasant afternoon, my classmates and I decided to visit the Houston Museum of Fine Arts to begin on our museum assignment in world literature class. According to Houston Museum of Fine Art’s staff, MFAH considers as one of the largest museums in the nation and it contains many variety forms of art with more than several thousand years of unique history. Also, I have never been in a museum in a very long time especially as big as MFAH, and my experience about the museum was unique and pleasant. Although I have observed many great types and forms of art in the museum, there were few that interested me the most.
...the Museum forward to capitalize on the opportunities presented. As an organization in its institutional phase of its life cycle (Male, N.D.), the Children’s Museum of Tacoma has the community support, a history of successful annual campaigns with a large donor base, and the funding capacity to move forward with their development campaign.
All across the world there are hundreds of museums filled with history, information, exhibits, and famous documents. A variety of museums display artifacts of a mix of several cultures, historical events, famous people, and art work in the entire museum. Rather than having several different attractions, some museums are dedicated to showcasing exhibits based on a specific topic of history or interest. Therefore, museums with the purpose of educating people of a certain topic should only display artifacts, pictures, documents, and other such attractions germane to the museum’s theme of interest. In order for a museum to achieve it’s purpose and maintain it’s protocol, the museum must take into consideration the many pros and cons of a new display throughout the decision process.
Although at some times challenging, my overall experience was very positive and I learned a great deal during my 47-month experience. I have numerous instructors and tactical officers who pushed me but also believed in me. Their investment in me is the reason that I have been very successful in my professional career. I want to pay forward what they taught me. Especially at West Point, I think teaching can be a conduit about real-life experiences. I want to be on the team of Social Sciences instructors who inspire cadets to realize their potential and therefore offer their best to West Point and to their gaining
knowledge of cultures or peoples can be based on false stereotypes and notions. Museums have always been based on displaying things, educating the public through exhibiting materials and the false notions from the public are one thing that museums refuse to propagate.15 However, refusing to display these well-known, popular yet false data sometimes can hinder the feedback on a specific exhibit, displaying accurate but not the popular expectation of the specific subject. Museums carry a great impact on society’s understanding of native cultures through their displayed information and most museums are history museums with a considerable majority being Native American materials.16
Public History sites, such as museums, monuments, and memorials, have become a big part of American History and culture. They preserve, interpret, and project history and memories to the American public, who largely do not attend a history class after high school. They are sometimes the only knowledge of history some people get. These places are not only educational places but also places of political and cultural backlash. Public history sites have lots of severe issues because the museum staff follow the popular culture and do not want to offend the mass. These issues are what caused great political debates such as the fight over civil war monuments.
I decided to visit the D.I.A. for my first cultural museum evaluation. I chose to visit the D.I.A. because the last time I attended was back in high school which was about six years ago, and before then was when I was in the eighth grade. I vaguely remembered those times I did visit the institute and due to a lack of maturity I knew that I would cherish the experience much more this time around. I was always aware that the museum existed in Detroit, but I do feel as if I take the museum for granted like many others by not visiting it as often as I should as a resident of Detroit, and as an emerging college student who needs to develop an cultural awareness of the arts. I decided to visit the institute with my dear friend Tera
With more than 60,000 artifacts, we are the largest museum in the Smithsonian and the most-visited museum in the country!
This museum has some very cool and interesting exhibitions. Some of the exhibitions are The Grand Canyon, and Quest for the West. I've personally been to the Grand Canyon when I was younger and it is such a cool place to visit and I think it is very cool that a museum in Indianapolis has an exhibition about the Grand Canyon. The exhibit of The Grand Canyon uses art, history, and culture to help visitors like you to understand the interaction of people with this important area over time. It has three themes, environmental, experience, and expression. It inspires and instills a sense of wonder and visitors and allow them to explore the interwoven natural and human histories of the Grand Canyon. Quest of the West is an art show and sale. You can enjoy Hoosier hospitality at this must see show and sale featuring 50 of the countries biggest names in western