U.S.S. Indianapolis Memorial Garden History of Events
Vision Statement
Goals and Objectives
On July 30, 1945 at 12:14am, a Japanese submarine torpedoed the USS Indianapolis in the Philippine Sea. The Indianapolis sank in approximately 12 minutes, taking down 300 of the 1,196 servicemen on board with it. The remaining 900 men were cast into the shark-infested waters with little to no food and water and no lifeboats. The remaining men of the Indianapolis weren’t discovered until four days later by accident, by this time their numbers were down to 316. Charles Butler McVay III, the captain of the Indianapolis, survived the ordeal and was shortly after court-martialed. He was found guilty of “hazarding his ship by failing to zigzag.” This is despite the fact that there is evidence that Navy itself had placed the ship in harm’s way. Even the Japanese submarine commander testified that zigzagging would not have helped in the least. Over the course of WWII, McVay was the only captain to be court-martialed even though over 350 navy ships were lost in combat over the course of the war. This further strengthened that fact that McVay was being used as a scapegoat for the mistakes of the navy. In October of 2000, legislation was passed in Washington to express the belief that Captain McVay’s should be exonerated for the loss of the Indianapolis and all those that lost their lives. In July of 2001, McVay was officially exonerated and his record amended to mark this change. Sadly, Captain McVay took his own life in 1968, some years before his
This project was designed to alter the current site into an area that offers a therapeutic healing experience in the heart of Indianapolis centered around the tragedy that befell the U.S.S. Indianapolis. Elements include a winding path that frames views towards the memorial, plants that soften the urban hards-cape, and water elements that call to mind the life of the U.S.S Indianapolis. This memorial garden will act as a learning experience for those not directly involved with the tragedy and a healing experience for those that were affected by it.
I.Create an outdoor room a.Buffer from surrounding site b.Use vegetation to create separate spaces c.Allow for seating II.Allow for educational experience a.Create a structure consisting of a timeline i.Inset into path system b.Form space for memorial III.Form a therapeutic atmosphere a.Utilize a balance of hardscape and softscape i. Plant species with cool-toned blooms and a variety of textures b.Allow for areas of rest c. Use of white noise i. Reflective pool IV. Allow for views to and from site a. Create entrances that will draw people into site b. Frame views with vegetation
http://www.ussindianapolis.org/
eventual and rightful exoneration.
Site Development
http://thisisindiana.angelfire.com/americanlegionmall.htm http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/89001404.pdf
The site itself lies within the boundary of the American Legion Mall, which is in turn apart of the larger Indianapolis Mall National Historic District. Five blocks of downtown Indianapolis make up the district, from University Park to the Indiana State Library. The district was designed to realize the concepts of the “City Beautiful” movement of the early 20th century. Concepts included a classic formality to the buildings and landscapes in addition to an overall grand monumental scale. These concepts are apparent in the neoclassical style that the American Legion employs in its building complex and the formal parterres that line the Mall. Available land for the new USS Indianapolis Memorial lies between the American Legion Building and Obelisk Square. The footprint of the site is roughly the same as the nearby four story structure. Nearby Meridian Street to the west will have to be taken into account due to its heavy traffic flow. A memorial added into this context must be in line with the concepts already established and work to enhance the surroundings with its own brilliance. Nodes in the district include the American Legion Headquarters, the Sunken Garden,
Indianapolis Historic and Conservation Districts
Meridian Street
Obelisk Square, and finally the Indiana World War Memorial Building.
Indiana
Marion County
Michigan Street White River
Vicinity Map
NORTH MERIDIAN ST.
LA SOCIETE DE FEMME
U.S.S. Indianapolis
OPEN GREEN DEPRESSION TOPOGRAPHY CHANGES CREATES A BARRIER
STRONG GEOMETRIES FRAME VIEWS TO EAST
BUFFER NOISES AND VIEWS TO STREET
CONNECT TO CULTURAL TRAIL
CREATES ITS OWN SPACE
VIEWS TO OTHER WAR MEMORIALS
Inventory and Analysis
Key Shade Trees ACE-R FAG-G LIR-T TIL-C Ornamental Trees AME-C CER-C Shrubs JUN-S KAL-L Perennials CAM-P IRI-V LIA-S MER-V TUL-B TUL-N Grasses PAN-V
U.S.S. Indianapolis
Quantity Scientific Name
Common Name
Size
Spacing
Root
Seasonal Interest
Therapeutic Value
Per Per Per Per
Plans Plans Plans Plans
B&B B&B B&B B&B
Red Fall Color Interesting Bark Blooms in May-June Yellow Fall Color
Provides Provides Provides Provides
3 9 4 9
Acer rubrum Fagus Grandifolia Liriodendron tulipifera Tilia cordata
Red Maple American Beech Tulip Tree Littleaf Linden
3" 3" 3" 3"
6 21
Amelanchier canadensis Cercis canadensis
Serviceberry Eastern Redbud
2" cal 2" cal
Per Plans Per Plans
B&B B&B
White Blooms in April Purple-Pink Blooms in April
Fine texture, movement Cool-toned blooms
144 134
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' Kalmia latifolia 'Elf'
Blue Star Juniper Elf Mountain Laurel
4' 4'
Per Plans Per Plans
B&B B&B
Evergreen shrub Pinkish-White Blooms in May
Interesting coarse texture Cool-toned blooms
Campanula poscharskyana 'Telham Beauty' Iris virginica Liatris spicata 'Kobold' Mertensia virginica Tulipa 'Blue Parrot' Tulipa 'Negrita'
Telham Beauty Bellflower Blue Flag Kobold Liatris Virginia Bluebell Blue Parrot Tulip Negrita Tulip
No. 1 No. 3 No. 4 No. 4 Top Size Top Size
18" o.c. 18" o.c. 6" o.c. 1' o.c. 6" o.c. 6" o.c.
cont. cont. cont. cont. cont. cont.
Blue Blooms June-July Blue Blooms June Purple Blooms July-August Blue Blooms March-April Blue Blooms in early spring Purple Blooms in early spring
Cool-toned Cool-toned Cool-toned Cool-toned Cool-toned Cool-toned
Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass
No. 1
48" o.c.
cont.
Purple/Red Fall Color
Fine, soft texture, movement
535 679 628 785 1,214 628 667
cal cal cal cal
shade, shade, shade, shade,
sense sense sense sense
of of of of
enclosure enclosure enclosure enclosure
blooms blooms blooms blooms blooms blooms
Plant Schedule
Southwest to Northeast Cross Section
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7.5
15
30
60
Rebecca McKevitz Zachary Rees Lauyrnn Thieme
D
G
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C
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E
G
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F
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B
A
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legend A. Memorial D. Overlook G. Entrance
B. Memorial Plaza E. Reflecting Pool H. Natural Zones
Day rendering
C. Main Pathway F. Secondary Pathway I. Lawn Space
U.S.S. Indianapolis Memorial Garden
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Rebecca McKevitz Zachary Rees Lauyrnn Thieme
Serviceberry
Eastern Redbud
Elf mountain laurel
blue flag
Negrita Tulip
Blue Star Juniper
blazing star
Virginia Bluebell
Switchgrass
9) FAG-G
9) TIL-C
4) LIR-T 535) CAM-P 535) TUL-B
157) MER-V
144) JUN-S
LAWN
157) MER-V 6) AME-C 679) IRI-V 679) TUL-B
157) MER-V 4) CER-C
667) PAN-V 628) LIA-S 628) TUL-N
6) CER-C
157) MER-V
3) ACE-R
134) KAL-L
157) MER-V
PLANTING Plan
11) CER-C
U.S.S. Indianapolis Memorial Garden
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5
10
20
40
Rebecca McKevitz Zachary Rees Lauyrnn Thieme
D
G
H
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I
C
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G
H
F
C
E
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H
B
A
H
H
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legend A. Memorial D. Overlook G. Entrance
B. Memorial Plaza E. Reflecting Pool H. Natural Zones
C. Main Pathway F. Secondary Pathway I. Lawn Space
U.S.S. Indianapolis Memorial Garden
Night rendering
0
5
10
20
40
Rebecca McKevitz Zachary Rees Lauyrnn Thieme