Battleship USS Tennessee Bell

This bell, which can be viewed at the museum, was fitted aboard the battleship USS Tennessee when she was constructed before 1920. When the ship was commissioned, the United States Navy labored hard to enlist the majority of the sailors from Tennessee, a feat that had never been attempted. When the Tennessee entered service, 95% of her crew were from the state that she was named after. The ship was commissioned too late to be involved in WWI and spent most of its early years traveling the globe. Later she was docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She was placed beside the USS Arizona and this is where she was found on December 7th, 1941 when the Japanese attacked. The Tennessee served continually until 1943 when she was taken to Washington state to be repaired, fitted with new guns, and given a new bell. The bell that is featured was taken out of storage after many years and placed here in front of the Battleship USS Tennessee Museum. Her sister bell can be found at the Tennessee State Military Museum in Nashville.

Note: A video of the second bell can be found here at 1:40. Second USS Tennessee Bell