What would happen if the people steering a warship had never been to school? In the early 1800s, this was a real problem for the United States Navy. Sailors learned their skills on the job. Some officers could barely read a map. Mistakes at sea could cost lives. George Bancroft, the Secretary of the Navy, decided to fix this. On October 10, 1845, he opened the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Annapolis was chosen because of its location on Chesapeake Bay. The first class had only fifty cadets. The curriculum included math, navigation, gunnery, and steam engines. Cadets lived under strict discipline. They woke early, studied all day, and practiced sailing on the bay. Over time, the academy grew. During the Civil War, it temporarily moved to Newport, Rhode Island, to stay safe from conflict. After the war, it returned to Annapolis and expanded. Today, the Naval Academy is one of the most prestigious colleges in the country. About 4,400 students attend. Graduates serve as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps.