Battleship South Dakota Memorial

09/05/2026

81 years ago today- 5 September 1945

Following the departure of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Admiral William F. Halsey boarded USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), which became the Third Fleet flagship, from which he directed the naval phase of the occupation of the J*panese home islands.
Admiral Halsey would remain onboard the USS SOUTH DAKOTA and lead the third fleets return to the United States in October 1945, with the SOUTH DAKOTA leading the Third Fleet's entry into San Francisco harbor.
In November 1945, Halsey would end his 45-year career in the Navy aboard the SOUTH DAKOTA, which hosted a large naval delegation for the change of command.

The Battleship South Dakota Memorial museum is open daily 9:30am - 5:30pm until September 30th. The exterior of the memorial is open year-round. Admission is free.

Photo- Admiral Chester Nimitz (right) and Admiral William Halsey aboard South Dakota (BB-57), 1944.

09/02/2026

81 years ago today; 2 September 1945.

J*pan signs the Instrument of Surrender, which declared "We (J*pan) hereby proclaim the unconditional surrender to the Allied Powers of the J*panese Imperial General Headquarters and of all J*panese armed forces and all armed forces under J*panese control wherever situated."

On the Morning of September 2nd, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and his entourage departed the third fleet flagship USS SOUTH DAKOTA at 0802 to attend the surrender ceremony onboard the MISSOURI, returning to the SOUTH DAKOTA at 1050. Nimitz spent the remainder of the day onboard the SOUTH DAKOTA and departed the next morning via seaplane and returned to his headquarters on Guam.

The sailors of the SOUTH DAKOTA observed the surrender ceremony from the ships deck. Sailors from the SOUTH DAKOTA never forgave the slight of the MISSOURI being used for the ceremony instead of the SOUTH DAKOTA. On a typed copy of the USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) Log of Battles and Missions, next to “Signing of Peace on board the USS Missouri,” one crew member wrote, “...& got five planes to her credit, Ha! Ha! What a laugh compared to our score.”

Photo- Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, and Pacific Ocean Areas, signs the Instrument of Surrender as United States representative, during the surrender ceremonies on board USS Missouri (BB-63), 2 September 1945. Standing immediately behind him are (left to right): General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander; Admiral William F. Halsey, Commander, Third Fleet, and Rear Admiral Forrest Sherman, Deputy Chief of Staff to Admiral Nimitz.

08/30/2026

81 years ago today: 29 August 1945

The USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) led the Third Fleet into Tokyo Bay and dropped anchor. Admiral Halsey greeted Fleet Admiral Nimitz when he arrived in a PB2Y "Coronado" seaplane and made the SOUTH DAKOTA his flagship.
Halsey and Nimitz were onboard the South Dakota until September 2nd. Following the surrender of J*pan, Nimitz returned to the SOUTH DAKOTA, and later that day boarded his sea plane for transport back to Hawaii.

08/27/2026

81 years ago today- 27 August, 1945.
Admiral William "Bull" Halsey Jr, aboard the USS South Dakota (BB-57), led ships of the Third Fleet into Sagami Wan (Sagami Bay), outside the entrance to Tokyo Bay. SOUTH DAKOTA crewmen noted that many J*panese troops and civilians stopped to watch the fleet enter the bay, while others continued with their daily tasks. This was a staging point for the Fleet while final sweeps were being made in Tokyo Harbor, in preparation for the Fleets arrival in two days.

Photo: Left USS Iowa BB-61, ahead of her is USS Missouri BB-63, to her left is USS South Dakota BB-57, to the right is HMS Duke of York (17) photographed from USS Ancon AGC-4 off of J*pan in late August 1945. LIFE Magazine Archives - John Florea Photographer.

The Battleship South Dakota Memorial is located at Kiwanis Avenue & West 12th St in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Open May 1st - September 30th: 7 Days a Week 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM. Admission is free.

08/21/2026

84 years ago today- 21 August 1942
Having completed her shakedown, the newly commissioned USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) sailed for her first tour in the Pacific theater. She and her escorts transited the Panama Canal on 21 August and crossed the International Date Line on 2 September, reaching Tongatabu, Tonga Islands, on 4 September.

Photo- Quad mount 1.1-Inch, 75-Cal. gun crew aboard the South Dakota (BB-57) during her shakedown. Known as the "Chicago Piano", the gun was very unpopular with its crews due to its tendency to jam. It was said, the only way to fire one was to position a gunner's mate on his back underneath the mount, equipped with an assortment of wrenches and hammers to clear the jams when they occurred.

08/14/2026

81 years ago today- 14 August 1945 (15 August J*pan Standard Time)
END TO A WORLD AT WAR. Carriers were launching strikes against the Tokyo plains when “official” word arrived that the J*panese accepted the terms of unconditional surrender. The SOUTH DAKOTA received orders at 0638 to cease firing. This would be the last time the USS South Dakota (BB-57) engaged in combat.
On 17 August, Captain Emmet Forrestel assumed command of the battleship.
The news of J*pan’s forthcoming surrender spread rapidly on 10 August 1945, but the surrender was not “Official”. On 15 August 1945 (JST), the “Hirohito Surrender” was broadcast nationwide in J*pan. The speech is the first known instance of a J*panese emperor speaking to the common people. It announced to the J*panese people that the J*panese government had accepted the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded the unconditional surrender of the J*panese military. The emperor’s speech was broadcast at noon (J*pan Standard Time) on 15 August 1945, and referred to the atomic bombs as a reason for the surrender. Listen to Emperor Hirohito's surrender broadcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnMk1Vhg1oM
As recalled by USS South Dakota (BB-57) crewmember, Seaman Allan Vernon Robinson: “We expected the war to end suddenly, untrumpeted and without ceremony. For us it did that [but] we did not expect it to end when it did. It was 8:55 p.m. on the night of August 10,1945, that this bad dream came to an end for us. At that moment word was received and relayed throughout the fleet that the J**s were feverishly radioing that: "We have accepted your terms." It came through the air repeatedly and repetitive. It was unofficial as far as the statesmen were concerned, but the sources from which it came left no doubt in our minds that the J**s meant it. Shouts, screams and impromptu celebrations reverberated throughout the ship. It was too good to be true, but it was.”
Source- Life Aboard "Battleship X": The USS South Dakota in World War II by David B Miller
Also, On this day- 15 August 1942
The USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) sailed for the Pacific. She and her escorts transited the Panama Canal on 21 August and crossed the International Date Line on 2 September, reaching Tongatabu, Tonga Islands, on 4 September.
Photo- Sea of J*pan, August 30, 1945- The USS South Dakota (BB-57) and the Fletcher class destroyer USS Healy (DD-572) (Right), and the Sumner class destroyer USS DeHaven (DD-727) (Left).sty

08/10/2026

Do you have your Battleship South Dakota challenge coin yet? Our one of a kind coin is a standout for your collection. Buy yours today at our ship store.

Coins are 3-dimensional imprinted, 2-tone metal, and ceramic painted. We are not able to fulfill requests for specific serial numbers.

08/09/2026

81 years ago today:

On this day: 9-10 August, 1945 (the 2nd bombardment of Kimaishi)

The SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) bombarded Kimaishi on Honshu and supported carrier raids to bomb Honshū-Hokkaido area.
USS South Dakota Crewmember Seaman Allan V. Robinson recalled in stunning detail: Shortly before noon we opened fire with our 16-inch guns and kept at it until about 3 p.m. That is hard work, and it grew harder as the powder charges were gradually increased to get more range and to drive larger projectiles through the air. Kamaishi was burning smartly. The bombardment charges were running low so larger high-capacity charges were substituted. The flashes burned your eyes, the concussion jarred you off your feet, the blast blew off your hat, tore at your clothes, and stood your hair on end in wild disorder; to keep your phones on you had to hold them with your hands. All the while Kamaishi was being systematically and methodically erased. As the rapidity of fire increased, targets decreased. When the 5-inch guns quit there were not enough targets fit for a .22 rifle. It had been a good Day's shooting. As it might take a half-dozen 16-inch shots to sink any possible J*p ship that might dispute our retirement, we saved seven rounds against that possibility. We had exhausted our heavy shells. Other ships laying off that did not participate in the bombardment stood by to give us protection if needed. Tired and hungry, we retired in the middle afternoon. Kamaishi was gutted.
*Little is known about Seaman Allan Vernon Robinson. He worked for the Metropolis Republican-Herald, a small weekly newspaper, for several years before and after serving in the navy. Sometime in 1948, he left his spouse, Mayme Teuton Robinson, moved on to find other work, and disappeared. Mayme Robinson spent the rest of her life in Metropolis, Illinois and the wartime writings of her husband eventually found their way into the estate of her friend, Mildred Parr of Metropolis. Following Parr's death in 1992, her son, Ron Parr, gave the materials to the author, a childhood friend. They are now part of the collections of the South Dakota State Historical Society.
Source: South Dakota State Historical Society- Life Aboard "Battleship X"

Photo- Battleships South Dakota (BB-57), Indiana (BB-58) and Massachusetts (BB-59) operating off Honshu during the bombardment of Kamaishi. The Massachusetts is firing. The South Dakota and Indiana can be seen behind her.

08/09/2026

Thank you Dakota News Now.

From a gun salute to young Sea Cadets presenting the colors, the USS South Dakota Day of Honor connected generations through a shared legacy of service and remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives.

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08/08/2026