US Naval Academy Alumni Hall: A Hub of History, Tradition, and Athletic Spirit
Every college sports fan knows that gameday at one of our nation’s service academies is one full of pageantry and tradition. The Alumni Hall at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis stands as a testament to the institution's rich history, traditions, and commitment to fostering athletic excellence. More than just a sports arena, Alumni Hall serves as a central gathering place for the Brigade of Midshipmen and a repository of Naval history, embodying the values and spirit of the Academy. Regardless of the sport, there’s no better place to see this patriotic valor on display than at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. Here, the long-held customs of the maritime forces are pridefully presented at athletic events and assemblies, not the least of which includes men’s and women’s basketball games at good ole’ Alumni Hall.
A Brief History and Purpose
Completed in 1991 at a cost of $30 million, Alumni Hall is a multipurpose facility that serves various functions within the Naval Academy. It is the primary assembly hall for the Brigade of Midshipmen, a venue for athletic contests, and a space for lectures, theatrical productions, concerts, official ceremonies, dinners, and receptions. The facility also houses the Bob Hope Center for the Performing Arts.
The construction of Alumni Hall was part of a broader redevelopment of the Naval Academy campus initiated in the early 1900s. Naval Academy was established here in 1845 as students prepare to become officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. In 1895, businessman Robert Means Thompson (USNA, Class of 1868), directed the renowned architect Ernest Flagg to develop a master plan for an extensively improved Naval Academy. Flagg, a student of the Beaux Arts style of architecture, created a plan that emphasized "precise axial symmetry," "hierarchy of importance," and "organizational rank."
Before Alumni Hall was built, Navy basketball played out of Halsey Field House - which now serves the track & field teams.
Architectural Significance
Alumni Hall embodies the Beaux-Arts architectural style, characterized by its emphasis on symmetry, proportion, and ornamentation. The limestone walls and sea-green accents give the building a stately appearance, while the bronze USNA seals in the indented corners add a touch of historical significance. Big bay windows line one side of the arena’s main concourse, offering a view of the academy campus in the foreground and out to the Severn River in the distance. These windows allow for plenty of light to seep inside during day games.
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The building's design reflects the overall aesthetic of the Naval Academy campus, which features numerous Beaux-Arts structures designed by Ernest Flagg in the early 20th century. Flagg employed five major design elements, consisting of a quadrangle (Stribling Walk) bordered on all sides by a dormitory (Bancroft Hall) opposite of the academic buildings (Mahan, Sampson, and Carter Halls), a Chapel, and a boat basin (which has since been filled for the construction of Michelson and Chauvenet Halls .
Interior Features and Historical Displays
Alumni Hall's interior is rich with Naval history and tradition. The arena's most noticeable feature is the series of Class Crests that ring the walls in front of the upper-level staircases. These Crests date back to the class of 1906 and continue unbroken to the present day, with one exception: The Crest of the class 50 years senior to the current graduating class, highlighted separately on the main concourse, represents the "Link in the Chain" program.
The passageways of the arena are adorned with Naval history, including intricate model ships of past and present. One concourse is dedicated to Lt. Lloyd Garnett and his shipmates on the USS Samuel B. A music room is named for Lt. Mark Lange, Class of 1979, whose A-6E Intruder (flying from USS John F. Kennedy) was shot down over Lebanon in December 1983.
The facility features two exterior landscaped memorial plazas donated by the classes of 1942, ‘58 and ‘59.
Athletic Arena and Gameday Experience
Alumni Hall can hold just over 5,700 for basketball contests. As an athletic venue, Alumni Hall is home to the Naval Academy's men's and women's basketball teams, both members of the Patriot League, and also hosts wrestling matches. The arena provides an intimate atmosphere for fans, with equal amounts of seating on two levels arranged in an octagon around the court. Despite the lighting issues, cadets and Navy diehards work to provide their own energy on gameday. The vociferous cadet area behind the basket leads the way by participating in many USNA-themed chants. The Midshipmen men, while not necessarily the most successful team, have participated in March Madness on a few occasions. Their best ranking and run came in 1986 when they advanced to the Elite Eight, falling to eventual runner-up Duke. The women’s team, on the other hand, has enjoyed more recent success since their move up to Division I in 1991.
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The playing court at Alumni Hall is dedicated to Dave Smalley, who was associated with the Academy as a player, coach, professor and administrator for more than 50 years.
Prior to the 2014-15 season, a new Daktronics center-hung video board was added. The board shows live video, vivid graphics, animations, statistics and instant replay on an eight-foot by eight-foot screen.
Army-Navy Rivalry
Navy’s most loathed opponent is undoubtedly the Army Black Knights. Just like the football rivalry that the two service academies share, Army-Navy basketball battles are perhaps the most exciting weekends on both team’s schedules. Typically a home-and-home men’s & women’s doubleheader, the academies meet at least twice per season, each fighting for the chance to “sing second”.
Fan Experience
Attending a game at Alumni Hall offers a unique experience steeped in Naval tradition. However, getting to the venue can be challenging due to its location at the heart of the Academy. Alumni Hall is inaccessible by vehicle unless you possess a DBIDS or Department of Defense identification card. The general public is not allowed to drive anywhere onto Navy’s campus, so that means parking in the city and then walking through the Visitor’s Center. From there, it is at least a 10-minute walk to the arena. The other option is that you can park at the football stadium for 10 bucks and then take a shuttle bus to the arena.
Despite these logistical hurdles, the gameday atmosphere is electric, with cadets and fans alike displaying their Navy pride. The vociferous cadet area behind the basket leads the way by participating in many USNA-themed chants.
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Honoring Naval Heroes
Similar to the Football Stadium, Navy highlights the many have come through Annapolis and served their country. Each armrest inside the arena honors the name of one of those people. On the interior walls, the Class Crest going all the way back to 1906. It is a fascinating tour of each intricate design. The halls outside of the main court contain beautiful artwork, huge murals and replica ships.
The work of the prominent marine artist Tom Freeman, who created and executed the paintings under a commission from the class, they depict the major fighting arms of the US Navy during the 1960s when the greatest number of members of 1961 were on active duty. From left to right, they are titled "The Marines at the Hue Citadel", "Dawn on Yankee Station", and "Rescue by USS Barb".
Basketball honors are minimal and while that’s understandable, I would have liked to seen more inside the arena. Instead, trophies for David Robinson and other memorabilia is confined to Lejeune Hall, a separate building further away. Team honors are on banners from the rafters and Robinson’s #50 is retired along with four other players. You’ll also find conference titles and NCAA appearances in this area.
The Legacy of Isherwood Hall
The story of Alumni Hall is intertwined with that of Isherwood Hall, a former building on the Naval Academy campus. Isherwood Hall, built in 1905 as part of Ernest Flagg's redevelopment plan, was decorated with two large granite Naval Academy Seals. When Griffin Hall was added to extend Isherwood during World War I, one of the seals was removed and placed in the new facade.
In the early 1980s, the three-hall complex was demolished to make way for Alumni Hall. However, the seals were carefully removed and saved. In 2005, one of the seals was retrieved from storage and placed in a new granite pedestal at Gate 1 of the Naval Academy, serving as a welcoming symbol for visitors.
Memorial Hall: A Place of Remembrance
While Alumni Hall is a hub of activity and tradition, Memorial Hall within Bancroft Hall serves as a place of quiet reflection and remembrance. Memorial Hall was initially designed, as its name suggests, as a place for quiet, respectful remembering. Yet by 1907, it had already become the site for less appropriate activities. Naval Academy Order No. 49-23 was issued on 31 July 1923, which reads: (1) Memorial Hall has long been one of the honored spots at the Naval Academy and has served as a source of inspiration to all officers, midshipmen, and others who have visited it; particularly on account of the many memorials placed there honoring those officers and men of our Navy who have lent distinction by their service to country and flag. (2) In order that Memorial Hall will be restricted only to such gatherings as its atmosphere suggests its use as a reading room will be discontinued.
In recent years, Memorial Hall has undergone extensive restoration to enhance its dignity and decorum. The space has been upgraded to comply with fire and safety codes and standards. The committee identified three categories for memorialization: Service, Sacrifice, and Valor. It was determined that Memorial Hall, as its name indicates, should solely memorialize Naval Academy alumni.
Valor is exemplified in Memorial Hall by a plaque bearing the names of those awarded Medals of Honor. Nearby, the Killed in Action scroll is a sobering, powerful example of Sacrifice. The panel will contain the crest of each Class, followed by the Class's Operational Losses.
The New Alumni Association and Foundation Center
To further support the Naval Academy's alumni community, a new Alumni Association and Foundation Center has been established. The new home for the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation offers a unique opportunity to provide a legacy building to academy graduates for years to come. The building is sited on College Creek, overlooking downtown Annapolis and serving as a gateway to the historic Naval Academy campus across the water. Its design is intended to serve multiple purposes while perpetuating the academy’s history, traditions, memories, and evolution.
The new waterfront venue replaces a collection of three inadequately small historic buildings that could no longer support the association and foundation’s needs. Now five times the size of those buildings combined, the new center can easily accommodate workspace for the Alumni Association and its fundraising Foundation.
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