West Point

West Point is a fort on the west bank of the Hudson river in New York State approximately 50 miles north of New York City. It is the location of the United States Military Academy. There are 16,000 acres of land on the site.

The site was selected by George Washington and the fortifications were designed in l778? by [Thaddeus Kosciuszko]?. General Washington considered West Point one of the most important positions on the continent. The high ground above a narrow "s" curve in the Hudson River enabled the Continental Army to control the vital river traffic. The British could have split the colonies in two if they had gained control of this land.

West Point is the oldest continuously occupied military post in America.