USS Arizona Memorial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids USS Arizona Memorial |
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USS Arizona Memorial in 2002
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 USS Arizona Memorial
Location in Hawaii
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| Location | Pearl Harbor |
| Nearest city | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Area | 10.50 acres (4.25 ha) |
| Established | May 30, 1962 |
| Visitors | 1,556,808 (in 2005) |
| Governing body | U.S. Navy National Park Service |
| Website | Pearl Harbor National Memorial |
The USS Arizona Memorial is a special place in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii. It marks where the battleship USS Arizona sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This attack caused the United States to join World War II.
The memorial honors the 1,102 sailors and Marines who died on the Arizona that day. It was built in 1962 and floats above the sunken ship without touching it. Over two million people visit it every year.
You can only reach the memorial by boat. The National Park Service runs a visitor center nearby. Here, you can learn about the attack and catch a boat to the memorial. The sunken ship itself became a National Historic Landmark in 1989. The USS Arizona Memorial is part of the larger Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii.
Contents
Building the Memorial
How the Idea Started
After World War II ended, people wanted to create a memorial for the USS Arizona. The ship's damaged upper parts were removed, but its hull remained underwater.
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In 1949, the Pacific War Memorial Commission was formed to build a permanent memorial. In 1950, Admiral Arthur W. Radford started a tradition. He placed a flagpole on the Arizona's main mast, and a flag is raised and lowered there daily. A small, temporary memorial was also built that year.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the idea for a National Memorial in 1958. It was planned to cost $500,000. Most of the money came from private donations, but the government also helped.
Who Helped Pay for It?
Many people and groups helped raise money for the memorial:
- The Territory of Hawaii gave $50,000 in 1958.
- A TV show called This Is Your Life helped raise $95,000. This happened during a segment about Samuel G. Fuqua, a hero from the Arizona.
- Famous singer Elvis Presley held a benefit concert in 1961. He raised $64,000, which was his last live show until 1968.
- Selling plastic models of the Arizona brought in $40,000.
- Federal funds, thanks to Senator Daniel Inouye, added another $150,000 in 1961.
The memorial was built to honor all members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It remembers those who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Memorial Design and Meaning
Honolulu architect Alfred Preis designed the memorial. The United States Navy wanted it to be like a bridge floating above the ship. It needed to hold about 200 people.
The structure is 184 feet (56 meters) long. It has two high points at each end and sags in the middle. Some people first thought it looked like a "squashed milk carton."
Preis explained his design: "The structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends. This shows initial defeat and ultimate victory." He wanted it to feel peaceful, allowing visitors to think about their own feelings.
What You See at the Memorial
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The memorial has three main parts: an entry, an assembly room, and a shrine. The central assembly room has seven large open windows on each side and on the ceiling. These seven windows represent December 7, the date of the attack.
There is also an opening in the floor. Visitors can look down at the sunken ship's decks. They can toss flowers into the water to honor the fallen sailors. In the past, flower garlands called leis were thrown. Now, leis are placed on guardrails to protect sea life from the strings.
One of the Arizona's huge 19,585-pound (8,884 kg) anchors is at the visitor center entrance. Another is in Phoenix, Arizona. One of the ship's bells is also at the visitor center. Its twin is at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
At the far end is the shrine. It has a marble wall with the names of everyone killed on the Arizona. A smaller plaque lists the names of about 30 crew members who survived the sinking. Any surviving crew members could choose to have their ashes placed inside the wreck by Navy divers. The last survivor, Lou Conter, passed away in April 2024 at 102 years old.
Memorial History and Care
The USS Arizona Memorial was officially opened on May 30, 1962, which is Memorial Day. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The United States Navy and the National Park Service began working together to manage the memorial in 1980.
Oil still leaks from the sunken battleship. This oil rises to the water's surface and is sometimes called "the tears of the Arizona" or "black tears." The National Park Service carefully watches the ship's condition.
The marble wall with the names needs regular care. Saltwater vapor can cause stains and damage. The original wall was replaced in 1984, and that replacement was changed again in 2014.
USS Missouri and Arizona
The battleship USS Missouri is also at Pearl Harbor. It was on the deck of the Missouri in Tokyo Bay that Japan officially surrendered to the United States, ending World War II.
In 1999, the Missouri was moved to Pearl Harbor. It is docked behind the USS Arizona Memorial. This pairing of the two ships is a powerful symbol. The Arizona represents the start of the U.S. involvement in the war, and the Missouri represents its end.
The Missouri was placed carefully so it would not "overshadow" the Arizona Memorial. Its front (bow) faces the memorial. This shows that the Missouri now watches over the remains of the Arizona, allowing those lost to rest in peace.
Visiting the Memorial
Public Visits
The visitor center, run by the National Park Service, is free to enter. It has a museum with exhibits about the Pearl Harbor attack, including one of the Arizona's bells.
Over a million people visit the memorial each year. You need to reserve a spot online for the boat trip to the memorial. Because many people want to visit, reservations often fill up weeks ahead of time.
Before boarding the boat, visitors watch a 23-minute film about the attack. The memorial itself is self-guided. The National Park Service website has all the latest visitor information.
You can rent an audio tour at the visitor center. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, whose father was a Navy veteran in World War II, narrates it. Along the shoreline, there are more exhibits and a "Remembrance Circle."
Nearby, you can also visit the USS Bowfin, a World War II submarine, for a separate fee. The battleship USS Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor are also available to visit, but require a bus ride to Ford Island.
Boat transportation to the memorial was stopped for repairs in 2018 and 2021 due to cracks and safety issues with the dock. It reopened in September 2019 after major repairs.
Important Visitors
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Since 1962, every U.S. President has visited the memorial. They place a wreath and scatter flowers over the Arizona to honor those who died.
On December 27, 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe visited the memorial with President Barack Obama. They paid their respects to the fallen service members. Abe was the first Prime Minister of Japan to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, 75 years after the attack. This visit was a return gesture after President Obama visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial in May 2016.
Honoring the Arizona
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Every U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine ship entering Pearl Harbor follows a special tradition. Their crews stand at attention along the ship's rails and salute the USS Arizona Memorial. They do this as their ship slowly enters the harbor.
The Arizona is no longer an active ship, but it is considered a U.S. military cemetery. When survivors of the attack pass away, many choose to have their ashes scattered over the ship. Others have their urns placed inside the ship's structure. As a special tribute, the U.S. flag flies from a flagpole attached to the sunken battleship's mainmast.
The USS Arizona National Memorial is one of the important historical sites that became part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in 2010.
Images for kids
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A letter from Rear Admiral J.J. Manning to Robert Ripley about the need for a permanent Pearl Harbor memorial.
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December 2006: 65 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, retired Lieutenant Commander Joseph Langdell, a USS Arizona survivor, recalls the experience at the memorial.
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Aboard the Memorial - List of USS Arizona survivors who were later cremated, and their urns were placed into the wreckage by Navy SEALs. (October 2012)
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Aboard the USS Arizona Memorial - list of lost sailors in marble, back wall. (October 2012)
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Aboard the USS Arizona Memorial - center gallery. (October 2012)
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Memorial Plaque - with a relief of the floating walkway. (October 2012)
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Memorial Plaque - Dedicated 1962. (October 2012)
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Heading out to the Memorial - military escort and pilot. (October 2012)
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USS Arizona Memorial is bathed by the lights of ‘Aiea on the evening of the 62nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 2003.
More to Explore
- Artifacts from the USS Arizona
- USS Utah (BB-31) wreck and memorial at Pearl Harbor
- University of Arizona – Student Union Memorial Center
