The sinking of the USS Indianapolis remains the greatest single-ship loss of life in the history of the United States Navy.
The ship was sunk just days after completing a top-secret mission to deliver uranium-235 for the 'Little Boy' atomic bomb to Tinian.
Due to the secrecy of the mission, the ship's absence was not immediately noticed, leaving survivors in the water for nearly five days.
The memorial is one of only a few national memorials located in a major city that is not managed by the National Park Service.
The names on the memorial wall are listed alphabetically, regardless of rank, to emphasize the equality of the loss.
Survivors of the sinking were subjected to extreme dehydration, exposure, and constant shark attacks while drifting in the Pacific.
The memorial was officially dedicated on August 2, 1995, exactly 50 years after the sinking was reported to the public.
A bronze sculpture at the site depicts the ship's silhouette moving through waves.
The USS Indianapolis National Memorial honors the crew of the Portland-class cruiser that was sunk by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945. The memorial features a wall inscribed with the names of the 1,196 men aboard, 879 of whom were lost at sea or died before rescue. Designed by architect Gary Freeburg, the monument is constructed from granite and stainless steel to reflect the maritime nature of the disaster. It serves as a permanent site for annual reunions of the surviving crew members and their families. The site is uniquely situated along the downtown Canal Walk, integrated into the urban landscape of Indianapolis. It provides an educational overview of the ship's final secret mission to deliver components for the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
The view from the canal level looking up at the granite wall during the golden hour.
Visit during the early morning hours to avoid the high foot traffic of joggers and tourists on the Canal Walk.
Read the informational placards placed along the walkway for context before approaching the main memorial wall.
Combine this visit with a walk to the nearby Indiana World War Memorial Plaza to complete the historical experience.
Do not treat the memorial as a playground for children or a place for loud conversation.
Maintain a quiet, respectful tone as this is a site of remembrance and a war memorial.
