USNA Tour Highlight: GEM Tours

Are you planning a trip to the Naval Academy? Our global electric motorcar (GEM) tour may be the perfect way to see the Yard. To get a feel for its majesty, sometimes it’s nice to see it at walking level, at a pace where you can take in the details and really linger in the spots you enjoy. On the flip side, the Yard can be a sprawling place, covering 338 acres, dotted with large and stately buildings, and spaced with generous walkways and mature trees.

With our GEM Naval Academy tour, you harness the best of both worlds. These five-passenger eco-friendly vehicles easily traverse the distances to cover most of the Yard. With a 1.25 hour tour, you’ll take in many of the places that make it a home for the midshipmen. And you have the added benefit of stops where you stay in the vehicle but get that walking feel, where you can really focus on an area and get to know the history.

This blog provides a brief sneak peak at one of our popular GEM USNA tours. You’ll have a knowledgeable guide to drive you around and bring the stories of the Yard to life. Ready? Hop on in and let’s get touring!

Bancroft Hall

Finished in 1906 and designed by USNA architect Ernest Flagg as a cornerstone of the “New Academy,” this beautiful building represents Flagg’s Ecole des Beaux Arts education. It’s a shining example of the 17th century French Renaissance architecture movement with the Mansard roof. Although Flagg’s vision was for a red brick facade that mirrored Annapolis’ quaint buildings, he was vetoed. Two powerful congressmen on the Naval Affairs Committee told him “if they aren’t built of Maine granite, you won’t get my vote.” So, here you see beautiful granite instead, a detail that distinguishes the Academy from the surrounding historic downtown.

There are eight wings to this enormous building, which is home to 4,400 midshipmen, with a post office, uniform store, the USNA Midshipmen Store, the midshipmen mess hall, King Hall (one of the world’s largest dining facilities at 65,000 square feet) and about 4.8 miles of corridors. It is both stunning in style and in scope.

Next stop?

The Main Chapel

Construction started in 1904, this historic, non-denominational chapel is open to all. Both Sunday morning Protestant and Catholic services are also open to the public. The Jewish Chapel, attached to Mitscher Hall, has services on Friday evening and is also open to the public. Muslim and other religious services are held in Mitscher Hall. Midshipmen are not required to attend chapel services, and many also attend services in town.

The first portion of the Chapel was designed by Flagg to represent a Greek cross with four equal transepts and seats 1,200. The Naval Academy later added a Nave to accommodate its growth, and the shape became a Latin cross, now able to host 2,200. The dome was recently replaced and will take on a copper patina as it ages. The Chapel is located on the highest point on the Yard.

Next stop?

Commodore Uriah P. Levy Center

Built in 2005, this place of worship and education was designed to complement Bancroft Hall with its whitewashed limestone and horizontal lines, while also providing a sense of modernity as well. It’s positioned across from the seawall to give midshipmen a place to pause and center themselves. Inside, there is a beautiful Jewish Chapel and a training center for the moral development and education of the Brigade.

Next stop?

The Air Park

Our air park is home to four retired service aircrafts. The A-4 Skyhawk is a single seat attack aircraft developed in the early 1950s for the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. The F-4 Phantom is a tandem two-seater that was entered into service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of Mach 2.2. The EA-6B Prowler is a warfare aircraft with one pilot and three Electronic Countermeasures Officers. Finally, the F-14 Tomcat is a fighter aircraft, serving as the Navy’s primary maritime fighter.

Next stop?

The USNA Cemetery

This bucolic space was created as the largest addition of land to the Naval Academy; it was part of a two-parcel purchase of 100 acres, bought by the U.S. Government in 1868. Only a few colleges maintain a cemetery, and this sacred place houses the remains of USNA heroes like Senator and Captain John McCain, Bandmaster Charles A. Zimmerman, and Vice Admiral James Stockdale, as well as famous monuments like the Jeannette Expedition Monument that commemorates the men who died in the USS Jeannette Arctic Exploring Expedition of 1879-81, a fascinating feat of unbelievable bravery and perseverance.

Next stop?

The Sea Wall

Along the rocky seawall, you’ll see several monuments and memorials, including a cast-iron light post from USS Hartford called the Hartford Point Light, USS Maine Foremast (“the longest ship in the world”), and the Triton Light, a beacon at the end that welcomes and protects sailors as they return from sea.

Want More USNA History?

Take a GEM USNA tour and get the full lay of the land while also visiting the parade grounds, sports complexes, Ellyson Air Park, and more. Your USNA tours directly benefit the Brigade by providing funding for extracurricular activities like cultural arts, music, theater, club sports, and more. These help foster teamwork and camaraderie, building a stronger Brigade. Come visit and be a part of Yard history. Book your USNA tour now! Advanced online reservations are preferred and encouraged. Come aboard for a great ride.

On The Yard