The USS Arizona, named in honor of the 48th addition to the Union, is a symbol of the state. The ship tragically sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor and represents a turning point for the nation, prompting the US to enter World War II.
In addition to the memorial at Wesley Bolin Plaza, the battleship’s silver service and other artifacts are on display in the museum.
Videos
Walkthrough Tour of the USS Arizona Silver Service Exhibit
Arizona Capitol Museum USS Arizona Tour
A Tribute to Retired Lt. Commander Louis Conter
USS Arizona Collection
Piece of the USS Arizona, U.S. Navy, 1916. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
1916-1941 Electrical Relay Switch, USS Arizona, U.S. Navy, 1916. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
Photo Album, USS Arizona, belonging to survivor Louis Conter, 1940/1941. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
Louis A. Conter, 1940/1941. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
1940-1941 Handmade Frame belonging to Donald Gordon, Donald Gordon, 1940/1941. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
USS Arizona casualty, James Mattox, posthumous Presidential Citation, U.S. Government, 1941-1942. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
1942/1943 USS Arizona casualty, James Mattox, posthumous Purple Heart Medal, U.S. Military, 1942/1943. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
1942 USS Arizona Efficiency “E” Medal awarded to Patrick Keeshan, U.S. Navy, 1923-1924. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
1940-1941 USS Arizona photo belonging to James Durant Mattox, 1939/1940. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
1940-1941 USS Arizona souvenir album belonging to James Durant Mattox, 1939/1940. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
Commemorative Pennant, USS Arizona belonging to Donald Gordon, Donald Gordon, 1940/1941. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
USS Arizona sailor’s blue felt cap, U.S Military, 1940/1941. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
Navy Identification Card belonging to USS Arizona survivor Louis Conter, Louis Conter, 1940/1941. From the collection of the Arizona Capitol Museum
Digital Collections
Arizona Memory Project: USS Arizona Silver Service Collection
Google Cultural Institute: USS Arizona Artifact Collection
USS Arizona memorials at wesley bolin plaza
Wesley Bolin Plaza, located east of the Arizona Capitol Museum across 17th Avenue, is home to several memorials honoring the USS Arizona. The first to be installed was the anchor memorial, dedicated on December 7, 1976. The anchor is one of two that was used aboard the ship, the other is located at the memorial at Pearl Harbor.
On December 7, 1990, the signal mast memorial was dedicated, after a campaign raised funds to bring it to Arizona. The mast is located 1,177 feet from the center of the Capitol dome to represent the number of men who died aboard the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The “Guns to Salute the Fallen” Memorial contains a gun barrel from the USS Arizona and the USS Missouri, serving as two visible bookends to the beginning and end of World War II. Between the gun barrels, steel pillars in the shape of a battleship hull honor the 1,902 Arizona men and women from the various military branches who died in World War II.
