History of the USS Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a Pennsylvania-class battleship commissioned in 1916, serving proudly in the U.S. Navy for over two decades. She represented American naval strength during the interwar years, conducting training missions and showing the flag across the Pacific.
On December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona met her tragic fate during the attack on Pearl Harbor. A bomb dropped by Japanese forces ignited her forward ammunition magazines, causing a massive explosion that sank the ship within minutes. Of the 1,512 crew members on board, 1,177 lost their lives, making it the single largest loss of life on any U.S. ship that day. The Arizona was left where she sank, becoming both a tomb for those who perished and a symbol of the attack that propelled America into World War II.
In the years following the war, efforts grew to honor the men of the Arizona. In 1962, the USS Arizona Memorial was officially dedicated, designed by architect Alfred Preis. Built directly above the sunken battleship, the white, open-air structure stretches across the wreck without touching it, creating a solemn space for remembrance. The memorial includes the Shrine Room with the engraved names of the fallen, a place of reflection and tribute to their sacrifice.
Today, the USS Arizona Memorial stands as one of the most visited sites in Hawaii, welcoming millions annually. Accessible only by boat, it offers a poignant reminder of the cost of war and the resilience of peace. Together with the Battleship Missouri, it powerfully marks both the beginning and the end of America’s involvement in World War II.