Pacific Historic Parks led extraordinary effort to keep the USS Arizona Memorial accessible for 44 consecutive days
With the federal government shutdown now ended, Pacific Historic Parks (PHP) thanks the donors, partners, and staff whose support kept Pearl Harbor National Memorial—home of the USS Arizona Memorial—open to the public for 44 consecutive days. Through advance planning and private funding, PHP sustained daily operations so visitors from around the world could continue to pay their respects at one of America’s most hallowed historic sites.
“When the shutdown began, most national parks were forced to close. Our community stepped up,” said Aileen Utterdyke, President and CEO of Pacific Historic Parks. “We are proud and deeply grateful to have kept Pearl Harbor open for 44 days so visitors could honor the 1,177 sailors and Marines who perished aboard the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941.”
During the shutdown, the memorial continued to welcome visitors with access to visitor services, guided programs, and the museum bookstore. PHP maintained site access, provided visitor information, and funded daily operations typically supported by the National Park Service.
First-time visitors expressed deep gratitude that the memorial remained open. On October 1, Jennifer Bell and John Singleton from Oregon found their relative’s name among the 1,177 lost aboard the USS Arizona and called it “an emotional experience.” Two weeks later, 85-year-old Joyce Taylor visited from Florida to honor her submariner father killed in World War II, sharing, “The national parks should be open all the time. I wish everyone could see it.”
PHP invites the public to continue supporting education and preservation at Pearl Harbor by donating, shopping at its online bookstore, or becoming a Pearl Harbor Hero. Proceeds directly fund programs that share the history and legacy of World War II in the Pacific. Visitors can also purchase an exclusive U.S. flag flown at the USS Arizona Memorial at PacificHistoricParksBookstore.org.