Remembering Pearl Harbor - Part III

To read parts 1 and 2, click on the "USS Arizona" tag on the right of the page.

I meant to post these pictures sooner, but I've been a bit busy so I decided to take some time and get it done today. In previous posts, I posted some photos of a piece of the USS Arizona's superstructure that had been salvaged in 1942 and is now in the Arizona State Capital Museum, along with some other items housed in the museum. To view those posts, just click the "USS Arizona" tag on the right of the page.

Prior to the attack, there were a number of beautiful pieces of silver and silver sets on board. This silver service is now on display in the Arizona State Capital Museum. In "Battleship Arizona An Illustrated History" by Paul Stillwell there is a picture of the silver service on display on the quarterdeck soon after the USS Arizona was modernized. In the last shipyard period took place an activity referred to as "strip ship." When war seemed a question of when and not if, items that were not necessary during war were removed from the ship. Among these items were the pieces that made up the silver service. So, the pieces that you see in the museum were not recovered from the hulk at Pearl Harbor. According to Stillwell, after World War II the silver was put aboard the light cruiser "Tucson" and in the 1950s was on the ship "Adirondack". Clicking on the photos will give you a better view.

This photo shows "The Cowboy Compotes" - engraved pieces that honor Arizona's cattle industry, and "Pima Chief Compotes" - two small compotes engraved with a portrait of a Pima Chief to honor the Native American tribes in Arizona. The candelabra in the picture is one of two with the Navy emblem and saguaro cactus and features feet that look like dolphins. The vases are two of four vases used on the USS Arizona. Pine tree decoration recognizes the diverse ecology of Arizona.





This centerpiece is engraved with images of the Carnegie Laboratory and a Gila Monster. I found this interesting as I've seen two Gila Monsters in the wild while hiking, which is a bit rare. They aren't often seen in the wild. The goblets make up a set of twelve and are decorated with an image of Arizona Rough Rider Buckey O'Neil's Monument in Prescott.



The eagle was broken off the centerpiece before the silver was returned to Arizona.



The humidor in this photo is engraved with ranching scenes and Tumacacori Mission in southern Arizona. It was used to store cigars and other tobacco products.



This is a set of two smoking trays. They contained tobacco products and were used to prevent fires aboard ship.