As one of the most notable ships that took part in the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona played an instrumental part in the United States becoming involved in World War II. Highlighting the many ways literal pieces of history can be celebrated, three different pieces of this battleship are on display at the World War II Memorial in Phoenix, Arizona. These features have been further augmented with displays that allow audiences to connect with the people and event that changed the course of history.
Pieces of Arizona History
Named after what was the newest state in the union in the mid-1910s, the USS Arizona played a role in World War I and was irreparably damaged during the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 that brought the United States into World War II. During the Pearl Harbor attack, 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 were wounded.
The wreck still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor beneath the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii but the mast, anchor and gun barrel from the ship would eventually make their way to the state of Arizona to define the World War II Memorial in the larger Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza.
The Arizona’s 10-ton anchor is one of the key points of focus, as it is positioned on a circular pedestal with a length of giant metal chain. Dedicated in 1976, the names of the 1,177 sailors and Marines who were killed on USS Arizona during the attack are written on the memorial. At the other end of the memorial is the Signal Mast, which is the upper 26 feet of the ship’s primary mast. It was donated to the state of Arizona in 1990.
The gun barrel from the battleship Arizona wasn’t on the ship the day it was sunk but it was installed on the battleship Nevada in 1942. Many years after it was removed from that ship, an effort to raise funds to bring that barrel along with one from the USS Missouri to Arizona was begun. Both would be installed in the plaza in 2018.
Between the gun barrels are nine blue steel pillars that represent the nine minutes it took the USS Arizona to sink. Stainless steel nameplates hang on the sides of the pillars, one for each of the 1,902 Arizonans who were killed in the war. A time capsule that is to be opened in 2075 further connects audiences in the past with the future.
These features along with a physical layout that encourages special events like “Reflections of Pearl Harbor” highlight the many ways that the World War II Memorial preserves these pieces of history while enabling a further means of connection and engagement for audiences.
Preserving and Interacting with Pieces of History
Various parts of the USS Arizona that were salvaged from the wreckage have been dispersed throughout the state of Arizona to preserve the history of the ship and event in a distinct manner. However, the connections that audiences can have with the one-of-a-kind pieces at the World War II Memorial in the larger Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza have proven to cultivate interest and engagement across the eras.
