Bridging The Gap At The USS Arizona Memorial: The Juxtaposition Of Submerged Resource Preservation And Cultural Interpretation

Abstract

It is the goal of this paper to examine how the Arizona came to function as the iconic monument visitors are so familiar with now. From her launching as another ship of the line to her sinking and the terrible loss of life that occurred at Pearl Harbor to the construction of a monument and establishment of a National Park Service (NPS) management methodology that includes regular underwater archaeological survey and mapping. This paper is specifically concerned with the juxtaposition of submerged cultural resource preservation and the evolution of the USS Arizona Memorial as a cultural site through time.