Elvis Presley wired $65,000 to the USS Arizona Memorial project in 1961. That sum helped fund a $3.5 million structure spanning the sunken battleship. It took until 1962 for the White House to dedicate the site.
Architect Alfred Preis designed the white concrete shape. He wanted it to sag in the center but stand strong at the ends, symbolizing initial defeat and ultimate victory. Preis explicitly omitted overtones of sadness, forcing visitors to confront their own innermost feelings rather than relying on architectural cues for emotional direction.
Beneath the waterline, the USS Arizona remains a tomb. More than 900 of the 1,177 crewmen who died on December 7, 1941, are still trapped inside the wreck. Oil continues to leak from the ship, a persistent physical reminder of the catastrophe that triggered American entry into World War II. The US flag still flies from the severed mainmast, a symbol of the ship’s enduring legacy.
The National Park Service now manages the site, requiring reservations for the 30-to-45-minute guided tour. Visitors must arrive at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center one hour before their slot. The program includes the memorial, the national theatre, and Navy vessels, all fully accessible. No first-come, first-served tickets exist anymore. You book in advance, or you wait for the next available slot.