Fredericksburg, TX – On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, the National Museum of the Pacific War will host a special tribute to honor the crew of the USS Indianapolis, whose final mission led to one of the most tragic and defining moments in U.S. naval history.
The tribute begins at 1:00 p.m. in the Museum’s Memorial Courtyard, where visitors will gather for a moment of reflection at the ship’s commemorative plaques. The Indianapolis delivered critical components of the atomic bomb in July 1945 before being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. In the chaos that followed, hundreds of sailors perished—many from exposure and shark attacks—during four days adrift in the Pacific. Of the nearly 1,200 men on board, only 316 survived.
Following the outdoor tribute, guests are invited to a free screening of the documentary USS Indianapolis: The Legacy in the Historic Nimitz Ballroom. The film explores the ship’s final voyage, the harrowing survival story, and the enduring impact on families and survivors who worked for decades to bring awareness and justice to their shipmates’ memories.
USS Indianapolis Tribute
Date: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Locations: Memorial Courtyard and Historic Nimitz Ballroom
Admission: Free and open to the public
This event is part of the Museum’s continued commitment to honoring the legacy of those who served and sacrificed in the Pacific during World War II.
For more information about this and other programs, visit www.pacificwarmuseum.org.
# # #
About the Admiral Nimitz Foundation
The Admiral Nimitz Foundation was established in 1971 as a 501(c)(3) Texas Corporation to
provide additional development funding for the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Naval Museum,
a museum honoring Fredericksburg’s native son and Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces,
Pacific Ocean Area. The sole purpose of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation is to raise funds for the
National Museum of the Pacific War and to manage its operation.
About the National Museum of the Pacific War
The National Museum of the Pacific War (NMPW), founded in 1967, is the only institution in the
continental United States dedicated exclusively to telling the story of the Pacific and Asiatic
Theaters in World War II. The Museum annually welcomes more than 120,000 visitors, including
at least 15,000 students from across the state. The museum sits on six acres in downtown
Fredericksburg, Texas featuring three galleries with more than 55,000 square feet of exhibit
space, 40 media installations, approximately 900 artifacts, 15 macro-artifacts, and hundreds of
photographs. The Museum is a Texas Historical Commission Property, managed and supported
by The Admiral Nimitz Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. For more information,
visit http://www.pacificwarmuseum.org. Follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Smithsonian Affiliations
Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative
partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to share Smithsonian
collections, build collaborative networks, and engage learners of all ages with Smithsonian
resources. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.
