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All the United States Maryland Annapolis John Paul Jones' Crypt

John Paul Jones' Crypt

Rediscovered after a century, the father of the American Navy was reinterred in something dredged up from Davy Jones' Locker.

Annapolis, Maryland

Added By
Jared Steed
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John Paul Jones Crypt   U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Kevin H. Tierney/Public Domain
John Paul Jones Crypt   U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 1st Class Kevin H. Tierney/Public Domain
John Paul Jones   George Bagby Matthews on Wikipedia
  SemiruralYeti / Atlas Obscura User
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Plaque   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Bust of JPJ   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Door leading to the chapel.   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
The Naval Academy Chapel   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Not only a naval hero, but a rock legend, too : )   Julius Spada / Atlas Obscura User
Sign outside the crypt.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Plaque at the doorway just outside the inner sanctum of the crypt.   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Flags displayed at the crypt   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
His battles.   PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
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His flags.   PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
Model of one of his ships.   PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
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His bust.   PushingUpDaisies / Atlas Obscura User
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Sign   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
John Paul Jones   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Crypt   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
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The Crypt   triciawehner / Atlas Obscura User
Father Of The Navy   triciawehner / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The father of America's Navy is well known for shouting the famous phrase, "I have not yet begun to fight," in response to a request for his surrender at the Battle of Flamborough Head during the American Revolutionary War.

Less well known is the fact that for over a century after his death, the location of Jones’ body remained a mystery. Following his victories with the American Navy, Jones soon found his employment opportunities in America running dry. As a result, Jones joined and served with the Russian Imperial Navy for a short time. In May 1790, Jones retired to Paris. He died there two years later and was buried in a cemetery belonging to the French royal family. In 1796, France’s revolutionary government sold the property and the cemetery was forgotten. The area was later used as a garden, a place to dispose of dead animals and where gamblers bet on animal fights. It wasn’t until 1905 that Jones’ remains were re-discovered by America’s Ambassador to France and returned to the United States.

Today, Jones rests in an extravagant sarcophagus below the chapel of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The incredible coffin is covered in sculpted barnacles and is held up by legs in the shape of stylized dolphins. The whole thing is sculpted out of a black and white marble that makes it look as though it has been weathered by untold ages beneath the waves.

It was a long, strange voyage for Jones’ body to reach its final destination but his grand maritime tomb is a fine place for a man of the sea to spend his long sleep.  

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Tombs Naval History

Know Before You Go

Just take the tour of the Naval Academy! They'll take you through the Chapel (as long as it's open. No weddings or funerals) and the Crypt. The Tripoli monument is basically diagonally across the street behind the one building. The Agerholm is then in the next cluster of buildings across the street from The Tripoli Memorial. 

 You MUST have an ID to enter the USNA. No parking on site. Must park on the street. The earlier you get there the better.

Community Contributors

Added By

steedjb

Edited By

Martin, Molly McBride Jacobson, PushingUpDaisies, EricGrundhauser...

  • Martin
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • PushingUpDaisies
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Michael Busch
  • breaingram
  • triciawehner
  • cyberquinn42
  • blimpcaptain
  • SemiruralYeti
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • Julius Spada

Published

March 23, 2015

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Sources
  • http://www.usna.edu/Chaplains/virtualTour/crypt.php
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones#
John Paul Jones' Crypt
101 Cooper Road
Annapolis, Maryland, 21402
United States
38.980689, -76.481842
Get Directions

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