General interest

The first phase of a new USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center is open to visitors. It includes a new bookstore an education and research center, a snack bar, administrative offices and ticketing facilities for all the other World War II-era attractions. These include the USS Arizona Memorial: the USS Bowfin Museum, USS Missouri Memorial and Pacific Aviation Museum-Pearl Harbor.

The new center is designed to improve the visitor experience and comfort. A 23-minute movie about the Pearl Harbor attack will be shown in temporary facilities until the primary facility for the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is complete.

After 3 months in Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, the USS Missouri has returned to it’s home and is open for visitors. The museum ship is again open daily (except Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day and New Years Day) from 9 AM to 5 PM. Detailed information on tours, tickets and how to get there is available HERE.

The battleship USS Missouri returned to it’s Ford Island berth after 12 weeks of repairs in dry dock at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The ship began the repair work, that cost about $18 million, on Oct. 14, 2009. The replacement of hull plates and the installation of a $1 million dehumidifying unit as well as regular maintenance and painting were part of the work done by shipyard workers. The “Mighty Mo” will be prepared to welcome visitors again, and is expected to have a formal grand reopening on January 30, 2010.

A fundraiser at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island Thursday to save the aging control tower was held a few weeks ago. Contributions are still welcome. If you would like to support this effort please go to the museum support page.

You might also be interested in Hangar Talk, a blog on many aspects of the Pacific Air Museum and related subjects.

Pearl Harbor Tour a must for visitors to Oahu

An average of 4,000 visitors per day make Pearl Harbor one of the most popular Hawaii activities on any visit to Oahu. Pearl Harbor tours can include just a visit to the Arizona Memorial or can take in all four fascinating museums. Be sure to view our tips for what you need to know before you visit Pearl Harbor.

Arizona Memorial is a short boat ride from the museum.

Pearl Harbor is home to some of the most important World War II historic sites. A shuttle-boat takes visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial built over the sunken remains of the USS Arizona battleship. A short walk away from the Arizona visitor center is the USS Bowfin submarine museum, another interesting destination for those visiting Pearl Harbor.

The Battleship USS Missouri Museum and the Pacific Aviation Museum are located a short shuttle-bus away on nearby Ford Island. Visits to these two fascinating museums are recommended as part of a Pearl Harbor tour if time permits.

USS Arizona Memorial and Museum

This memorial is a moving tribute to the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. A visitor center and museum are the land-based portions of the memorial park. A free ferry takes visitors for the short boat ride to the memorial located over the sunken hull of the USS Arizona. Over 1.5 million people visit the Arizona Memorial every year.

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum

Go on board one of the few WWII submarines still afloat and learn what life was like for a submariner. Adjacent to the sub is a fascinating museum focused on the US Naval submarines from the first in 1900 to the nuclear submarines of today. Numerous other submarines, torpedoes and missiles are located on the grounds around the Submarine Museum.

Battleship Missouri Memorial and Museum

The last of the great US battleships, the “Mighty Mo” took part in many battles during WWII and secured her place in history as the site of the surrender to Allied Forces that ended World War II. Learn what life at sea was like with tours throughout the ship, films, photos and artifacts at the Missouri Museum.

Pacific Aviation Museum

Numerous WWII planes, dioramas, historical movies, and fascinating true stories of heroes and villains make this museum entertaining as well as educational. You can even try your skills in a WWII dogfight in a flight simulator at the Pacific Aviation Museum.

All of these museums share the same parking lot. The stop for the shuttlebus that takes visitors to the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum is located just outside the Bowfin Museum (vehicle access is restricted on Ford Island). The shuttlebus is frequent and free for museum ticket holders.

Books and Videos about the attack on Pearl Harbor

To learn more about the history of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we’ve selected several prominent books and a few DVDs. Have a look at our selection of books and videos about the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Illustration of the new Pearl Harbor Visitor Center & Museum

The new Pearl Harbor Museum and Visitor Center is expected to be completed in December 2010.  The construction is being done in stages so that that portions of the museum can remain open and provide continuing access to the Arizona Memorial. (more…)