[UPDATED FOR 2025]
Officer and membership clubs have long been the gathering places where military communities come alive - where meals are shared, stories unfold, and traditions take root. From early colonial settlements to modern military bases, these clubs have helped shape social life by offering connection, camaraderie, and a welcoming space for celebration. The U.S. Naval Academy Club (NAC) proudly carries that legacy forward. Want the inside scoop? Retired Associate Director, Senior Curator, and self-described “relic” of the USNA Museum in Preble Hall, Jim Cheevers, shared some fascinating insights into the history and evolution of this beloved institution.
The Naval Academy Club began in 1906, when Ernest Flagg’s “New Academy” vision took shape. Nestled along Truxtun Road, the building is a beautiful example of Beaux-Arts architecture - elegant, stately, and perfectly suited for what would become a cornerstone of Yard life. Known as the Naval Academy Officers Club, “O Club,” or simply “The Club,” this military officers club quickly established itself as a social hub for officers.
From the very beginning, the lower level was designed for dining and entertainment. Naval officers gathered for card games, dominoes, discussions of world events, cheering on sports teams, and enjoying the easy camaraderie that defines the Navy officers club experience.
In the early 20th century, the lower deck even featured a bowling alley. Cheevers recalls meeting George Belt, who fondly remembered setting pins there in the 1940s. When the area was later converted into a restaurant, the space was named The Alley Restaurant to honor the old lanes. A vintage bowling sign still hangs near the bar, marking the foul line and preserving a playful piece of history.
Cheevers joined the Naval Academy O Club in 1967. At the time, military officers and GS-7-level civilians were eligible for membership. He and his friends often visited the lower deck after work for happy hour, shuffleboard, dancing, and unwinding. The staff became part of the appeal.
He laughed as he recalled how “the bartender would hold a spot for his friend, Leann, with a martini glass filled to the brim with water and an olive, just to her liking.”
“Leann and I loved the staff; the people were so nice and I liked the ambience,” he recounted.
While the lower level offered an informal environment, the first deck of the Club has always featured spacious, well-appointed dining rooms. These areas frequently hosted lunches, dinners, and - most famously - Sunday brunch. After the Yard’s Catholic, Protestant, and non-denominational services, the Club was the place to gather. Today, members are invited to a wide variety of signature events throughout the year, including everything from celebratory brunches to signature receptions and everything in-between! If you're looking for some of the best dining in Annapolis, these rooms have long held that honor.
Related: The Naval Academy Club: Home on the Yard
The first deck was also home to many official celebrations. Surrounded by historic artwork depicting Midway, Leyte Gulf, and Coral Sea, guests dined in rooms named for these iconic battles. Countless weddings, retirements, graduations, showers, and memorials took place here - moments made more meaningful by the Club’s historic setting.
Cheevers remembers two events particularly well. The first was in 1973, when the U.S. Naval Institute celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Club. The Chief of Naval Operations and Senior Admiral of the Navy, Elmo Zumwalt (then serving as honorary president), attended. They used Admiral David Dixon Porter’s sword to cut the cake (fitting, since Porter had served as the Institute’s honorary president in 1873).
The second occurred on January 13, 2006, when the ceremony marking the disestablishment of the Marine barracks in Annapolis was held. The event honored Admiral Porter’s legacy and the longstanding relationship between Marines and the Academy. “It was sad in a way, but interesting,” Cheevers says. “We had uniformed Marines stand guard in the museum and the crypts and gates for years, so we had gotten to know them.”
Today, Cheevers is still an active Academy Club member - over 58 years and counting. If you spot him during a visit, ask him about the sword he displayed at his retirement party. Yes, Porter’s sword.
As the Academy evolved, so did the Club. In 1976, when the first class of female midshipmen entered the Academy, women also became eligible for Club membership. In recent years, membership has expanded further, now welcoming eligible civilians. This expanded access allows more people to experience the tradition and warmth of this exceptional Academy club.
Related: Membership Eligibility.
The Club also underwent a thoughtful refresh. The décor now blends modern lightness with deep respect for U.S. Naval history. Maritime artwork - created by Naval Academy graduates and local artists - highlights local Annapolis sites and scenes around the Yard. Naval Academy Catering continues to operate from the Club, serving up award-winning fresh, locally influenced dishes for events across the Yard.
More than 119 years after its founding, the Naval Academy Club remains an anchor of community life, honoring the past while welcoming new generations. It continues to serve as a cherished gathering spot for celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments, offering benefits and traditions that strengthen its place within Yard life.
The Naval Academy Business Services Division (NABSD) proudly supports the Club and, in turn, the Brigade of Midshipmen. Visiting the Club (non-members may do so for lunch) directly supports midshipmen by funding extracurricular programs, making each meal or event a meaningful contribution.
If you haven’t visited recently, we invite you to experience this historic, welcoming setting for yourself. And to those who already belong, please share your favorite memories. You are a big part of what makes the Naval Academy Club, and the Yard, so special.