
guardians in bronze
inner naval sanctum to
the ship of Peace
****
The six-meter plus high bronze outer doors at 121 Blake Road, Annapolis Maryland is the entrance to the U.S. Naval College Chapel. The bronze doors, a gift from US Naval Academy’s class of 1868 alumni were installed in 1909, a shield to the pair of wooden doors to the Chapel (*See below for details on the bronze carvings).
Trivia: These bronze doors endured years of weathered decay into modern times. Efforts at low-cost restoration with acid garnered lacklustre results. Finally, in 2018 a generous gift from the graduating class of 1968 alumni funded a full restoration of the doors. The funds were even enough to set up an endowment for the doors’ regular upkeep extending their brilliance for generations to come.
Below you will find a closeup of the bronze doors’ carvings: in the top segment – the personification of Science, and in the bottom segment – a mother teaches her son rudimentary fighting skills.

Wider angle of the US Naval Academy Chapel fascade below:

Very historic doors.
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They are indeed a great tourist attraction in Maryland.
Blessings to you, my friend. And great Peace.
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Thanks a lot
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Always a pleasure π
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πππ
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Thank you Jim. Happy Thursday.
We have a fair bit of rain here
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thanks….might rain here too π₯
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Enjoy π§
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ππ
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I appreciate your selection of pictures. So beautiful, Suzette!
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So glad you enjoyed them. Thank you.
Happy Thursday π
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Most welcome, Suzette! Blessings to you ππ
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Your poem captures the essence of these remarkable doors. “an endowment for the doors” – what a wonderful idea!
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Thank you Dan. And yes! I agree a marvelous idea to protect the doors for future enjoyment.
Thank you for your tireless efforts hosting.
Cheers.π
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You manage to find such amazing doors!
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Aww..thank youππ
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Oh my word, I’ve never visited Maryland. I should travel there and check out these amazing doors, ALSO
Β π’The bronze doors, a gift from US Naval Academyβs class of 1868 alumni were installed in 1909, a shield to the pair of wooden doors to the Chapelπ’
Get to know these wonderful stories
π’graduating class of 1968π’
Of these amazing people.
I love the navy, and this looks like a great learning academy
You do the carvings and Maryland Naval Academy proud with your haiku
π’naval sanctumπ’
Blessing the umbilical chord
With Peace
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I would love to visit Maryland too. So much history on protecting the oceans and its shores.
The Academy is indeed the place of learning for many. Some famous in the Navy of course and in other walks of life.
I was delighted beyond words.. with your analogy of the umbilical cord…perfect, Brava!
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Sounds like a great place to be and live. Being up north, you must make the visit someday.
I shall make a cyber trip thay way.
Thank you, it was so visible in my eyes reading the haiku. π
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I will try perhaps someday…
Happy virtual travels…β
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Thank youπ
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π
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Like the last line of your poem “ship of peace.” A mother teaching her son fighting skills – now, that is interesting:)
Have a lovely weekend, Emille
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Thank you. So pleased you like the line. And yes, the carving is unique in many ways…the bronze door’s second segment’s statement is a very forward thinking idea indeedπ
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Beautiful doors
Wonderful musings ββ€
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Thank you. Glad you enjoyed the pairing and thoughts. Much appreciated. Blessings to you. Cheers.
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You are most deservedly welcome β€πΉ
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π
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Wonderful picture and poem.
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Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the share.
Happy Thursday. Cheers.
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The bronze carvings are lovely. Oh that there were a ship of peace that was sailing everywhere!
janet
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Yes, Janet. I wish that too. A ship of peace sailing everywhere!
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What a coincidence, Richard, the photographer, just sailed from the Caribbean to Annapolis. They planned to have one day at the end to explore the city. I wonder if he’ll visit this site! Maggie
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Oh wow! Very interesting! Hope he gets time to visit it. Cool.
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So intricate–both the building and door are wonderful. It really draws you in. (K)
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Yes, well said! The building has a “specialness” to it.π
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Wonderful pairing of your words and pics Suzette!!ππ
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Thank you Cindy for your lavish support. Happy Friday π
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The doors tell the story, donβt they. Beautiful poetry, Suzette.
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Yes, they have amazing stories often told in their silence. Thank you Jeff. Blessings to you. Happy creating! βοΈ
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Indeed, they do, so true. Most welcome, Suzette. Always. Thank you, many blessings to you too, my friend.
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Thank you Jeffπ
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