This #MuseumMonday we’re looking back at the moment that set a young Charles Deering on a life of worldwide exploration. On June 21, 1869, at just sixteen, Deering entered the U.S. Naval Academy, already showing remarkable talent in mathematics, astronomy, navigation, and marine surveying. He graduated second in his class, beginning a career that took him across Europe and Asia aboard vessels like the U.S.S. Alaska and the U.S.S. Kearsarge. During his twelve years in the Navy, Deering’s travels introduced him to new cultures, artists, and ideas, shaping the collector and patron he would later become. In 1881, he made the decision to leave the Navy and return home, where he stepped into an executive role at the Deering Harvester Company, contributing to the groundwork of what would become International Harvester. To learn more about Charles Deering's naval years, visit the Historic Richmond Cottage at the Deering Estate, open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM. We are proud to be a Blue Star M...