Founded in 1891 and still operating as a public military high school and junior college. The original campus was built in a heavy crenellated Gothic Revival style in pinkish-tan brick — castle-like turrets, towers, and arched gateways — that contrasts strikingly with the flat surrounding desert.
The grounds are open to respectful visitors during daylight hours. The campus has produced a few well-known alumni, including the actor Roy Rogers, hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, and CNN's Peter Arnett. The small General Douglas L. McBride Museum in Lusk Hall covers institute history and is free.