[1] MacArthur never lived in Norfolk but his mother, Mary Pinkney "Pinky" Hardy MacArthur, was born and raised in Norfolk and he had fond memories of visiting her family home, Riveredge, as a boy.

The city of Norfolk's government built the memorial in the 1960s and has continued to own, renovate, and operate it due to a promise made between MacArthur and the then mayor of Norfolk, W. Fred Duckworth, in 1960.

Although MacArthur had been approached by many cities about his funeral and gravesite plans, Duckworth's offer was the most intriguing one.

MacArthur agreed to turn over all of his papers, medals, and memorabilia to the city of Norfolk and agreed to be buried in Norfolk as long as he and his wife would be laid to rest within the memorial.

Duckworth offered the former Norfolk City Hall building as a combined museum and mausoleum to honor MacArthur.