USS Oklahoma's silver service on display at Oklahoma History Center for Pearl Harbor Anniversary
Photo courtesy: © Oklahoma Historical Society
The state of Oklahoma is home to many pieces of history, soon to be more. As the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is commemorated, pieces of silver service from the USS Oklahoma will be on public display at the Oklahoma History Center.
The devastating attack on Pearl Harbor that took place in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941, is an important part of Oklahoma history as the USS Oklahoma was one of the eight battleships docked at the naval base. The attack caused more than 400 casualties and the boat capsized after being struck by torpedoes multiple times.
The history of presenting silver sets dates to the 1890s. The USS Oklahoma was celebrated by the Oklahoma Legislature in 1913 and designed by Oklahoma City’s own, Walter Dean, with a new silver service being created. The USS Oklahoma was christened on March 23, 1914, with the service being presented to the ship at the same time. The service was used on the battleship from 1914 to 1941 and was withdrawn before the attack. The silver service was moved to storage at the Puget Sound Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington.
After World War II ended, the Oklahoma Historical Society formed a committee to find the silver service and have it returned to the state. The U.S. Navy loaned the silver service to the Oklahoma Historical Society who then freshened it up with polish and repairs before putting it out for public display.
Select pieces are on public display at the Oklahoma History Center until Jan. 5, 2024. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the museum varies and special group rates are available.
SUBSCRIBE