The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
visited The USS Razorback and
The Beacon of Peace and Hope Monument
and the downtown area
in North Little Rock, Arkansas
October 15, 2022

USS Razorback (SS-394), a Balao-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named after the razorback, a species of whale (Balaenoptera physalus) found in the far southern reaches of the Pacific Ocean. She is arguably the longest-serving combat front-line submarine still existing in the world, having been commissioned by two different countries for 56 years of active duty. She was in Tokyo Bay during the surrender of Japan. In 2004, the state of Arkansas adopted the submarine (although she was not named after the University of Arkansas Razorbacks mascot) and she is now a museum ship at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.

Below: Hoga (YT-146/YTB-146/YTM-146) is a United States Navy Woban-class district harbor tug named after the Sioux Indian word for "fish." After World War II, the tug was known as Port of Oakland and then City of Oakland when she was a fireboat in Oakland, California.

Authorized on 18 June 1940, she was built by the Consolidated Shipbuilding Corporation in Morris Heights, New York. Her keel was laid on 25 July 1940. Launched on 31 December 1940, she was christened Hoga (YT-146). Placed in service on 22 May 1941 at Norfolk, Virginia, Hoga was assigned to the 14th Naval District at Pearl Harbor. She made the trip there by way of the Panama Canal, San Diego, and San Pedro.

At Pearl Harbor, Hoga was berthed at the Yard Craft Dock, and worked moving cargo lighters and assisting ships in and out of berths. Like other YTs, she carried firefighting equipment. Hoga was present during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The last surviving vessels from the attack are museum ships, the US Coast Guard cutter WHEC-37 (formerly USCGC Taney) in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, and Hoga at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum.

After several other docking stations, Hoga arrived at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum on 23 November 2015. At the museum she is part of vessels that are bookends for the US in World War II, with Hoga from the beginning of the war at Pearl Harbor, alongside the submarine USS Razorback which was present in Tokyo Bay at the surrender of Japan.

The two RV Gypsies were not able to board the USS Razorback at this time. But they both have been on other submarines.

Located at 600 North Main Street, near the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, the Beacon of Peace and Hope was erected by Women's Action for New Directions (WAND) to inspire those who view it to think of a world where PEACE and HOPE survive hand in hand. The goal is to inspire people to find ways to advance the ideals of PEACE and HOPE and to share them with their descendants. The Beacon is surrounded by The Peace Garden, planted in memory of Frederick “Sandy” Philips (1961-1988), who was one of 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Below: The Broadway Bridge aka Veterans Memorial Bridge is dedicated to all of the veterans who have served.

Below: The two RV Gypsies ate at Gus's Fried Chicken in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were not happy with the food.

This is not a linear site, so there are always choices of where to go next: Below are 2 choices, plus the main navigational buttons for this very large website.

Continue on in order of travel to Arkansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial

OR

Return to the 2022 Arkansas menu to explore sites in the order of your choice.

OR Continue Navigation in the order of your choice via the alphabetical or category buttons below OR Click here to see travels by the year (not the best way)