Bloomington Township in Monroe County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

USS Indiana

Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

1. USS Indiana Marker Marker

Inscription.
The mast of the USS Indiana is a gift of the United States Navy to Indiana University, with accompanying armament.

It stands as a memorial to the sons and daughters of the state of Indiana who have so gallantly served in the armed forces of our nation.

The battleship Indiana was commissioned April 30, 1942 and earned nine battle stars in operations and engagements in the War in the Pacific. Her distinguished career closed when she was de-commissioned September 11, 1947.

Erected 1966 by Indiana University.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 30, 1942.

Location. 39° 10.853′ N, 86° 31.617′ W. Memorial is in Bloomington, Indiana, in Monroe County. It is in Bloomington Township. It is on East 17th Street near North Dunn Street, on the right when traveling west. This memorial stands on the west side of Memorial Stadium on the campus of Indiana University. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 701 E 17th St, Bloomington IN 47408, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial

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is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: USS Indiana (BB-58) (here, next to this marker); Memorial Stadium (a few steps from this marker); George Taliaferro Plaza (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Calabi-Yau Quintic Cross-Section (approx. 0.6 miles away); Collins Living-Learning Center (approx. 0.7 miles away); Kappa Alpha Psi (approx. ¾ mile away); Original Memorial Stadium (approx. 0.8 miles away); Woodburn House (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bloomington.

Also see . . .
1. USS Indiana (BB-58), 1942-1963. Naval History and Heritage Command

Indiana then moved to the Central Pacific, where she participated in the invasions of the Gilbert Islands in November 1943 and the Marshalls in January 1944. While engaged
Photographed by Daniel Barriball, June 15, 2026

2. USS Indiana Marker in context
This memorial is the gray plaque behind the mast. The USS Indiana (BB-58) marker is to the left of this one.
in the latter operation on 1 February 1944, she was damaged in a night collision with USS Washington (BB-56). In April and May 1944, following repairs, Indiana escorted carriers in raids on Japanese positions in the Carolines. Beginning in June, she took part in the the Marianas campaign, including pre-invasion bombardment of Saipan and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. The battleship screened the fast carriers into the Autumn of 1944, assisting in strikes on the Palaus and Philippines. After an overhaul, Indiana returned to the Western Pacific in January 1945, in time to participate in the invasion of Iwo Jima, carrier raids on the Japanese Home Islands and the Ryukyus invasion. She passed through a typhoon in June and used her sixteen-inch guns to shell targets in Japan during the last weeks of the Pacific War.

(Submitted on July 9, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

2. University adds USS Indiana prow to collection. The American Legion An article about IU's acquistion of the USS Indiana's prow in 2013.

The university will formally welcome the ship’s prow to its new home with a re-dedication ceremony Sept.
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7, when IU hosts Navy in a football game. Representatives from the university, the U.S. Navy and the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center in Martin County, as well local, state and federal lawmakers, are expected to attend. "Indiana University is an appropriate home for this treasured vestige of naval history and tradition from the last warship named in honor of our great state," IU President Michael A. McRobbie said in a statement. "The fact that we have an opportunity to preserve a physical piece of this legacy and provide a lasting home for it at the state’s flagship public university is a source of immense pride that I share with all Hoosiers."

(Submitted on July 9, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. This page has been viewed 20 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 9, 2026, by Daniel Barriball of Chesterton, Indiana. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.