The USS Ward Number Three Gun
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.
USS Ward Gun Removal Ceremony
On September 2, 2025, the USS Ward Gun was removed from the Minnesota State Capitol grounds. It will be carefully restored and permanently installed at the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum near Camp Ripley, scheduled to open in late summer 2026.
Following the removal, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs hosted a formal event recognizing the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in Tokyo Bay, which took place on September 2, 1945. During that ceremony, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan presented MN Military & Veterans Museum's Executive Director, Randal Dietrich, with the USS Ward and VJ Day Commemoration Day proclamation shown on the right.
Follow the USS Ward Gun's restoration on the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum's USS Ward Gun #3 page.
USS Ward and VJ Day Commemoration Day proclamation from the Office of Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan
Staff Acceptance of Application, Review, and Preliminary Findings
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
Resources:
- USS Ward Gun Notice of First Public Hearing (published on November 19, 2024)
- USS Ward Gun Notice of First Public Comment (30-day comment period ended on January 7, 2025)
- Recording of USS Ward Gun First Public Hearing (held on December 19, 2024)
- USS Ward Gun First Public Comments (from December 3, 2024 to January 7, 2025)
- USS Ward Gun Admin Letter of Support
- USS Ward Gun Notice of Second Public Comment (from March 31, 2025 to May 5, 2025)
- USS Ward and VJ Day Commemoration Day proclamation (September 2, 2025)
Contact:
If you have questions or would like more information regarding the USS Ward Gun removal and its process, please reach out to the contacts below.
Ella Coon
Planning Fellow
Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board
Ella.Coon@state.mn.us
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