Historic Site

US Naval Academy

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Five people -- including the APS President and CEO -- pose for a camera with a black-and-gold commemorative plaque signifying an APS Historic Site. They're standing outdoors on a plaza, with the U.S. Naval Academy campus visible behind them.
The U.S. Naval Academy was recognized as an APS Historic Site during a ceremony in April. The round disks set into the terrace mark the original path of Michelson’s historic experiment measuring the speed of light.
U.S. Naval Academy / Stacy Godfrey

The U.S. Naval Academy, now recognized as an APS Historic Site, is where Albert A. Michelson conducted his landmark experiment measuring the speed of light in 1879. Located along the scenic shores of Maryland, Michelson improved upon previous methods to achieve unprecedented accuracy, measuring the speed of light at 299,940 km/s, a value remarkably close to today’s accepted standard. This achievement marked the beginning of his illustrious career in optics, earning him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1907. Today, the Academy commemorates Michelson's contributions through memorial lectures and markers that highlight his historic path.

Read the APS News Article on Michelson’s Speed of Light Experiment

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US Naval Academy | American Physical Society