"100 YEARS and forward..." is a new exhibition that highlights the history of the Naval Academy and the contributions of its graduates in the Twentieth Century. It is introduced with exhibits on the Spanish-American War of 1898 that had a profound impact on the history of the Academy.
Artifacts relating to the attack on Pearl Harbor dominate the beginning of the exhibits relating to the war in the Pacific. An ensign from the destroyer Shaw, which blew up during the attack, and a sword from a Japanese submarine officer are of particular interest.
The greatest naval battle of the Pacific war, and perhaps of history, the Battle for Leyte Gulf, features a short video that helps explain this complex engagement.
Some of the most ferocious fighting of the war occurred on the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The valor of the Marines, and the desperate tactics of kamikaze are dramatized in the exhibits. The Japanese were not the only enemy faced by American naval forces; typhoons took a heavy toll on ships and lives as well.
On 2 September 1945 the World War II ended with the signing of the Instruments of Surrender at a ceremony on board the USS Missouri. In this case are presented the table, tablecloth, and a chair used on that occasion. Featured also is the uniform worn that morning by Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and the pen he used in signing the document.
During the years of Cold War the US Navy continued to be active, helping to blunt the expansion of Communism and to explore the newest frontier: Space. Naval Academy graduates played significant roles in both endeavors.
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