Fear The Goat

 

Located about a half hour drive southeast of Washington DC is the quaint little town of Annapolis, Maryland. Tiny little narrow streets and colonial architecture belies the fact that Annapolis is the capitol of Maryland. The one-way streets are so narrow that if you open your car door to get out, you will be stopping traffic. They will all have to wait until you are out and about. Annapolis is also the home of the United States Naval Academy, the second oldest service academy in the U.S. I have a special place in my heart for the Academy as both my father ('49 Marines) and my brother ('75 Navy) attended this institution.-

We arranged for a tour in an electric car that they call Gem. It is a cute, weird little car but the Naval Academy (called the Yard) is huge and we were able to see so much more than if we had taken a walking tour.

Picture from the USNA website

I was so impressed as I learned all that these Midshipmen have to go through to graduate and become officers. High academic, physical and moral standards are expected.

The Chapel

John Paul Jones is thought to be one of the greatest naval commanders in the history of the United States. He is also credited as being "the father of the American Navy". The quote "I have not begun to fight" is probably what is remembered most by civilians. Interesting fact:  John Paul was his name at birth in Scotland.  After killing a couple of sailors(he claimed self-defence) he fled to America and assumed the last name Jones.  

Jones died in France and his body was doused in copious amounts of alcohol, surrounded by straw and placed in a lead coffin.  He was buried outside of Paris and for 113 years, there he remained.  In 1905, his coffin was found and the mummified remains were compared to the bust shown below.  It was determined that it was Jones and he was brought back and interred in the crypt under the chapel.  

John Paul Jones crypt

John Paul Jones himself
Our guide showed us a picture of the mummified body of Jones. 
He pretty much looked like this bust(except 115 years older).

Herndon Monument
Site of the Plebes-No-More ceremony.  A  plebe's (first-year student) hat is placed on top of the monument.  The monument is greased with lard.  The plebes then have to work together to climb the monument removing the plebes hat.  When this is accomplished they are Plebes-No-More.  

The only reason this picture is here is because I was impressed that this building is so large that they have a regulation size football field which can be rolled up when not in use.

Bancroft Hall: Housing the entire brigade of over 4,000 Midshipmen, it is considered to be one of the largest dormitories in the world (it even has it's own zipcode).There are a total of 1,873 dorm rooms, 4.8 miles of corridors, and 33 acres of floor space.  From a plaque on a wall inside

 

The entry into Bancroft Hall
Not too shabby.

A sample Midshipmen's room

Bill the Goat - mascot of the USNA