Over the years, the Naval War College has expanded greatly. The original building, the former Newport Asylum for the Poor, now serves as home to the
Naval War College Museum. In 1892,
Luce Hall was opened as the college's new home, at a cost of $100,000. At the time, the building housed lecture rooms and a library. Wings at either end provided two sets of quarters, occupied by the president of the College and members of the faculty. When the Naval War College was enlarged in 1932, this original building was renamed Luce Hall in honor of the institution's founder and first Superintendent (later President),
Stephen B. Luce. This original pair of buildings was designated a
National Historic Landmark in 1964, and listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. Luce Hall was again listed on the National Register in 1972. The 1970s saw the War College's most active expansion, with the opening of three separate buildings. In 1972, Spruance Hall, named after former NWC President Admiral
Raymond A. Spruance (March 1946 – July 1948), was completed, housing faculty offices and an 1,100 seat auditorium. Spruance Hall subsequently became the primary venue for major lectures and cultural events on the Naval War College campus. On one notable occasion, St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1975,
Johnny Cash with
The Tennessee Three along with
June Carter Cash and
Carl Lee Perkins performed a live concert at Spruance Auditorium. Before taking the stage, Cash also warmed up with June and Perkins under the historic rotunda in Mahan Hall. The recording of this "lost concert" of Johnny Cash show was donated by Captain Roy Cash, Jr., who later collaborated with Naval War College historian, David Kohnen, to write the account of the lost concert, which had previously remained undocumented in the official chronology of performances by Johnny Cash. That same year, in 1974, Admiral
Julien LeBourgeois organized a series of initiatives, which focused upon the cultural influence of the Naval War College upon civil-military policy. In conjunction with those efforts, LeBourgeois hosted several symposia to highlight the interrelationships between the American public and the future role of the navy in securing global peace. His efforts coincided with broader expansions in the Naval War College mission during the closing phases of operations in the Vietnam War. At that time, Conolly Hall was opened and named in honor of Admiral
Richard L. Conolly, Naval War College President 1950–1953. It houses the NWC Quarterdeck, Administrative and faculty offices, numerous class and conference rooms, and two underground parking garages. 1976 saw the opening of Hewitt Hall, one of two Naval War College buildings not named after a War College president, this time taking its name from Admiral
Henry Kent Hewitt, an advisor to the Naval War College during his tenure as Commander,
U.S. Naval Forces Europe, following World War II. Hewitt Hall is home to the
Henry E. Eccles Library, the
Trident Café, the bookstore and barbershop, and student study areas and lounge. In 1999, the state-of-the-art McCarty Little Hall opened, replacing Sims Hall as the War College's primary wargaming facility. The other building named after a non-president is named after
Captain William McCarty Little, an influential leader and key figure in refining the techniques of war gaming. This high-tech facility is used primarily by the Center for Naval Warfare Studies to conduct war games and major conferences, and for research and analysis. The building features the technology necessary to support a variety of multi-media needs essential during multiple and simultaneous war games. == Partnership with Brown University ==