27 Years as a National Historic Landmark

"This Day in History"

June 30, 1989

National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States.  Today, just over 2,500 historic buildings, sites, structures, objects, or districts bear this national distinction. 

National Historic Landmarks are designated because they are:

                Sites where events of national historical significance occurred;

                Places where prominent persons lived or worked;

                Icons of ideals that shaped the nation;

                Outstanding examples of design or construction;

                Places characterizing a way of life; or

                Archeological sites able to yield information.

The State of Arkansas currently has 18 National Historic Landmarks; including Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs, Little Rock Central High School, Parkin Indian Mound, and Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial Cemetery.  The 18^th landmark brought into the state was on November 23, 2015, Hoga (YT 146). 

Hoga (YT 146) is a United States Navy Woban-class district harbor tug.  The tug was placed into service on May 22, 1941; assigned to the 14^th Naval District at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  On December 7, 1941, Hoga was moored with other yard service craft near the drydocks when the attack began.  Hoga was underway within ten minutes of the first strike by the Japanese.  The tug extinguished fires on burning battleships and other vessels in the harbor and rescued wounded seamen from the oily waters.

“Hoga particularly distinguished herself through her crew’s actions in helping beach the burning and sinking battleship USS Nevada at Hospital Point as her run for the open sea was aborted by Japanese bombers who intended to sink her [the battleship] in the channel and block Pearl Harbor.” -- Application for National Historic Landmark Status

June 30, 1989, while Hoga served in the Oakland Fire Department, she was awarded the status of National Historic Landmark for her efforts in Pearl Harbor.