The oldest military monument in the United States, erected in 1806 to honour six naval officers killed during the First Barbary War (1801-1805) off the coast of Tripoli. The monument moved twice before settling at the Naval Academy in 1860 — first from Washington to the US Capitol grounds in 1831, then to its current spot on the academy's main quad.
The 30-foot marble shaft is topped by an American eagle and surrounded by allegorical figures of History, Commerce, Fame and America. It is the spiritual ancestor of every American military monument that followed and a touchstone for Naval Academy midshipmen, who pass it daily on their way to class. Visit it during a Naval Academy tour or with photo ID at the visitor entrance.