KTBS 3 Travel Club take a historical tour of West Point for America 250

American soldiers first lived at West Point in 1778 during the Revolutionary War, but the government did not own the land yet. Seeing how important the location was, Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton bought the property for the United States in 1790. To train officers for a growing army, President Thomas Jefferson officially started the academy in 1802. Its famous motto became: "Duty, Honor, Country."

Before it was a school, West Point was a vital fort. Its most famous defense was the "Great Chain" - a massive iron chain between 500 and 600 yards long that stretched across the Hudson River.

Built in 1778, the chain had links that stood for the original 13 colonies. It stopped British warships from moving up the river and splitting the colonies apart. Because the Hudson River froze in the winter, soldiers had to pull the heavy chain out of the water every winter and put it back every spring.

This important fort became the target of America's most famous traitor, Benedict Arnold. While running West Point, Arnold tried to sell the fort to the British. He told them they could break through the chain, but the British leaders refused to try. When his plot was discovered, Arnold escaped to England, where he later died.

Over the years, West Point has educated many major American leaders. Two U.S. presidents - Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower—graduated from the school.

The academy also shaped the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee ran West Point before the war began. The men he trained ended up fighting against each other as generals for both the North and the South.

Over time, the academy has changed to include more Americans. The first African American cadet graduated nearly 150 years ago, and the school named its first African American superintendent in 2018. Women were first allowed to join the academy in 1976.

Today, about 4,400 cadets live and train on campus. Looking down over the dorms is the Cadet Chapel, a tall building made of beautiful stone. Cadets are not required to go to church, but the building is a major landmark named in their honor.

Inside, the chapel fits 1,500 people and features historic flags and stained-glass windows. The front entrance has heavy wood doors with decorative ironwork.

The chapel is also home to the largest chapel pipe organ in the world. It is over 100 years old and has more than 23,500 pipes. The smallest pipe is the size of a pencil, while the largest stands 32 feet tall.