NEW YORK CITY — In commemoration of the events at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the New-York Historical Society, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, presents a special installation featuring photographs taken by both Japanese pilots and US Navy personnel, as well as other artifacts that bring America’s entry into World War II into stark view. On display through March 20, 2016, “Witnesses to History: Pearl Harbor” includes a rare copy of the” Imperial Rescript Declaring War on the U.S. and Great Britain,” one of only 12 known to exist.

Firefighters work on blazing battleship, December 7, 1941, photograph. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Objects on view include photos taken of Pearl Harbor in the first moments of the raid by Japanese pilots, as well as images captured by the US Navy depicting the widespread damage of battleships, including the USS Arizona and Oklahoma, engulfed in flames and heavy smoke from torpedo and bomb damage. Also on display are letters from two New Yorkers who joined the Army in the wake of the attack.

Accompanying the installation is an online exhibition featuring high-resolution images, interactive maps and more: www.gilderlehrman.org/pearlharbor.

The New-York Historical Society is at 170 Central Park West. For information, 212-873-3400.