Cadets' Monument, 1820

John Rubens Smith, circa 1820. Source: Library of Congress.

This hand-colored etching of the Cadet Monument (often called the "Cadets' Monument" in early writings) is by English-born artist John Rubens Smith and is thought to be from about 1820 (certainly 1819-1825).

Fun things to notice (see the infographic below): 

• One of the women on the left of the Monument is sharing a gaze with the cadet leaning against the tree in the middle. The Monument was a popular attraction for West Point visitors and cadets loved any chance to mingle.
• Notice the cadets taking a shortcut and coming up the bank from the River. 
• At the far right, in the background, you can see part of the yellow Long Barracks that burned down in the mid-1820s.
• Also in the background is the old dock, located at about the site of the current helipad. At the time, steamboats were still rare on the river and most boats were sloops.