Easily one of the most popular tourist attractions in Oahu is the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. The monument to those who died in the attacks sits just above the sunken ship itself and is a sobering reminder that even this tropical paradise can be interrupted by war.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, more than 1,170 people lost their lives - and the vast majority of them remain in the vicinity of the USS Arizona, right where they died. The USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated in 1962, and the section which visitors can access floats over the sunken USS Arizona although it doesn’t touch the ship. Those wishing to visit the site must take a boat out to the memorial from the mainland.
The structure of the USS Arizona Memorial is more than 180 feet long and 200 people can fit on it at one time. There are a total of 21 windows in the walls of the memorial, overlooking the water and the ship below - the number is meant to signify a 21-gun salute, or the idea of 21 soldiers standing over their dead. In addition to the windows looking out the sides of the memorial over the water, there is also a portion of the floor through which the sunken ship is visible as well. One end of the memorial includes a marble wall into which the names of all those who died on the USS Arizona are carved.
While the attack on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor prompted the United States to join World War II, it was on the deck of the USS Missouri that the Japanese finally surrendered, thus ending the war. So, in 1999, the USS Missouri was moved to Pearl Harbor and docked near the USS Arizona Memorial. These two sights taken together are a powerful reminder of the war.
Hours: Daily, 07:30-17:00 (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day)
Interpretive programs begin at 07:45, and the last program each day begins at 15:00
Admissions: Free; tickets are issued on a first come, first served basis
How to Get There: See the directions on the National Park Service website
More Information: The official website of the USS Arizona Memorial is here
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