This large gun, from a World War I-era Navy Destroyer, fired on and sank an enemy vessel in the very early morning of December 7, 1941. The crew was comprised of Naval Reservists from Minnesota. After the war, the United States Navy agreed to loan the gun to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs with the assurance that the state properly maintain it (please see supplemental materials, Part 2/Items A & B). The gun was installed on the State Capitol grounds in 1958. The gun is owned by the United States Navy.
CAAPB Staff received an application from Randal Dietrich, Executive Director of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum, for removal of the Commemorative Work USS Ward Gun from the Capitol Mall on 8/19/2024. CAAPB staff reviewed the application and determined it to be complete on 8/26/2024 (within the 10 days allowed per Minnesota Rules “Rules” 2400.2703, Subp. 7).
As directed by Rules, CAAPB staff reviewed the application within 10 calendar days of receipt and assessed the Commemorative Work based on the required conditions in Subpart 6. CAAPB staff finds that the removal request meets the condition of M.R. 2400.2703 Subpart 6., Item C., “the artwork has faults in construction or requires maintenance such that the Department of Administration is unable to properly care for or store the artwork.”
1) Memo to Board about Ward Gun
2) Ward Gun Application
3) Ward Gun Supplemental materials
The second public comment period is now open. The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board requests comments on a request to remove the USS Ward Gun from the State Capitol Mall, the disposition plans for the artwork, and restoration of the removal site by the Department of Administration. You can find more information regarding the Request for Comments by clicking on this link.
Written comments can be sent via mail to Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Freeman Building, 625 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55155 or email Tina.Chimuzu@state.mn.us. Comments must be received by 4:30 pm on May 5, 2025.
CAAPB and the USS Ward Gun Commemorative Artwork Review Committee (CARC) will conduct a public meeting and hearing on Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm to gather input on the request to remove the USS Ward Gun from the State Capitol Mall, the disposition plans for the artwork, and restoration plan of the removal site by the Department of Administration. The meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room at Rondo Community Library (461 N Dale St. Saint Paul, MN 55103). You can also attend the hearing virtually by clicking this link.
Each request to remove a Commemorative Work goes through a thorough process outlined below and in the flowchart to the right. Please find the applicable documentation for each step below. Click on the image to the right to view a larger version of the flowchart.
The USS Ward Gun is a second world war memorial that sits on the Capitol Mall, east of the Veterans Service Building on 25 12th Street West. This large gun, from a World War I-era Navy Destroyer, fired on and sank an enemy vessel in the very early morning of December 7, 1941. The crew was comprised of Naval Reservists from Minnesota. After the war, the United States Navy agreed to loan the gun to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs with the assurance that the state properly maintain it (please see supplemental materials, Part 2/Items A & B). The gun was installed on the State Capitol grounds in 1958. The gun is owned by the United States Navy.
On August 19, 2024, the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB) received an application from Randal Dietrich, Executive Director of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum, for removal of the Ward Gun from the Capitol Mall. The application can be accessed by clicking this link.
The CAAPB is currently processing this request according to Minnesota Rules 2400.2703, Subparts 6, 7 and 9.
No determination has been made yet concerning the moving of the Ward Gun and its future location. This will be decided through the ongoing process which is being carried out per Minnesota Rules 2400.2703, Subparts 6, 7 and 9.
This has not been decided yet. It will be determined according to the Minnesota Rules 2400.2703, Subparts 6, 7 and 9.
Should the request to remove USS Ward be granted, the Applicant will be responsible for any funding requirements per Minnesota Rules 2400.2703, Subpart 7, item L.
There will be several opportunities throughout the process for the public to comment on this application.
The first public comment period was open from December 3, 2024 to January 7, 2025, and was strictly addressing whether conditions in Minnesota Rules 2400.2703, Subpart 6 have been met for the Board to consider the application to remove the USS Ward Gun. There will be another public comment period from March 31, 2025 to May 5, 2025. Written comments can be sent via mail to Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Freeman Building, 625 Robert Street North, Saint Paul, MN 55155 or email Tina.Chimuzu@state.mn.us.
Public Hearing: The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board held a public hearing on December 19, 2024, regarding whether conditions have been met for CAAPB to consider the application to remove the USS Ward Gun from the Capitol Mall. You can view a recording of the hearing by clicking this link.
Further details and notices for both Public Comments and Hearing can be found via https://mn.gov/caapb/commemorative/cw-projects/uss-ward-gun-removal/ or through the Minnesota State Register and GovDelivery. You can sign up for our GovDelivery newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of this page and entering your email under the "STAY INFORMED" heading.
Additional public comment opportunities will be made available in the near future as the process continues.
You may get updates by frequently visiting this CAAPB webpage (https://mn.gov/caapb/commemorative/cw-projects/uss-ward-gun-removal/).
Additionally, calls for public comments or hearings are posted on the Minnesota State Register and GovDelivery. You can sign up for our GovDelivery newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of this page and entering your email under the "STAY INFORMED" heading.
For any additional questions you may email Tina.Chimuzu@state.mn.us.
A complete inventory of commemorative artworks at the Capitol Mall can be found via the link https://mn.gov/caapb/commemorative/memorials-monuments/. Details of their exact location can be seen on the virtual tour.
Tina Chimuzu
Planning Fellow
Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board
651-757-1508
Peter Musty (he/him/his)
Principal Planner and Administrator of the Zoning and Design Rules
Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board
651-757-1500
