Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza |
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USS Arizona Signal Mast
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| Location | Phoenix, Arizona |
| Operated by | City of Phoenix |
The Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza is a special park in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. It's right in front of the state capitol building. This plaza is a "Phoenix Point of Pride." It has many important memorials that honor people, wars, and big events in Arizona's past. It's a place where people can learn about history and remember important moments.
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History of the Plaza
The Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza was officially created on March 9, 1978. It was named after Wesley Bolin, who was the Governor of Arizona. He had sadly passed away just five days before the plaza was established.
This area was originally part of a larger space called the Legislative Governmental Mall. This Mall was designed to be an open outdoor area. It has monuments, memorials, and gardens, much like the famous National Mall in Washington, D.C. Some memorials were even put here before the plaza itself was officially named. For example, the monument for the USS Arizona was dedicated on December 7, 1976.
Because the plaza is located right in front of the state capitol, it often becomes a gathering spot. People use it for meetings, protests, and demonstrations. For example, in 2006, more than 100,000 people gathered at the plaza for a large rally.
Monuments and Memorials in the Plaza
The Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza is home to about 30 different memorials. These memorials honor individuals, groups, and important events.
One memorial honors the 158th Infantry Regiment. This is Arizona's oldest National Guard unit. Another very special memorial includes parts of the battleship Arizona. You can see its mast, anchor, and a large 14-inch gun. This ship was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II.
Other memorials remember important wars like World War I, World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and the Desert Storm. There is also a monument for the United States Bill of Rights. This monument is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States.
Here is a list of some of the memorials you can find:
- Wesley Bolin Memorial Marker
- Father Kino Statue
- 158th Regimental Memorial
- The Bill of Rights Monument
- Arizona Pioneer Women Memorial
- Ten Commandments Memorial
- Civilian Conservation Corps Memorial
- 4th Marine Division, World War II
- Law Enforcement Memorial
- World War I Memorial
- Confederate Troops Memorial
- Jewish War Veterans Memorial
- Rev. Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
- Armenian Martyrs Memorial
- Desert Storm Memorial
- American Merchant Seaman Memorial
- Father Albert Braun Memorial
- Arizona Peace Officers Memorial
- Korean War Memorial
- USS Arizona mast
- USS Arizona anchor
- USS Arizona 14-inch gun
- USS Missouri 16-inch gun
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial, including a sculpture by Jasper D'Ambrosi
- Ernest W. McFarland Memorial
- Purple Heart Memorial
- Arizona Workers Memorial/ El Pasaje
- Arizona Crime Victims Monument
- Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Memorial
- Arizona 9/11 Memorial
- Navajo Codetalkers Memorial
- Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial
- Granite Mountain Interagency Hotshot Crew
Ten Commandments Monument
The Ten Commandments monument was put up in 1964. It was moved to the plaza more than ten years later. In 2003, a group called the American Civil Liberties Union tried to have it removed. They argued that it goes against the idea of separation of church and state. However, the monument is still in the plaza today.
Arizona 9/11 Memorial
A memorial was built to remember the attacks on September 11, 2001. It was revealed on the fifth anniversary of the attacks, on September 11, 2006. Some people felt that the memorial had messages that were not patriotic. The group in charge of the memorial promised to look into it and make changes if needed. Despite these concerns, the monument has remained unchanged in the plaza.
Arizona Confederate Troops Memorial
In the early 1960s, a group called the United Daughters of the Confederacy helped pay for a "Memorial to Confederate Soldiers." This monument was meant to remember a short time when Confederate soldiers were in Arizona during the Civil War.
On June 19, 2020, during a peaceful protest supporting Black Lives Matter, someone sprayed red paint on the monument. Later, on June 30, the Daughters of the Confederacy asked state officials to return the monument to them. On July 23, 2020, the monument was removed from the plaza.
