It has grown from a 40,000 m² (10-acre) Army post named Fort Severn in 1845 to a 137 km² (338-acre) campus in the 21st century. Its principal buildings are:
- the Nimitz library (housing the departments of Language Studies and Political Science, as well as the library collection
itself);
- Rickover Hall (housing the departments of Mechanical Engineering, Naval Ocean Engineering, Aeronautical and Aerospace
Engineering);
- Maury Hall (housing the departments of Weapons and Systems Engineering as well as Electrical Engineering);
- Michelson Hall (housing the departments of Computer Science and Chemistry);
- Chauvenet Hall (normally housing the departments of Physics and Mathematics, but closed for renovations beginning the summer
of 2004);
- Sampson Hall (housing the departments of English and History);
- Mahan Hall (containing a theater along with the old library, which has now been converted into a lounge and meeting
room);
- the chapel;
- Alumni Hall (capable of holding the entire Brigade of Midshipmen and hosting various sporting events, such as
basketball);
- Bancroft Hall (the Midshipmen's quarters & the world's largest
dormitory);
- the Officers' and Faculty Club; and officers' quarters spread around the Yard.
