A trip to the U.S.S Arizona is a somber reminder of the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7, 1941. When the U.S.S. Arizona sank to the bottom of the harbor, it took 1,177 crewmen with it, many of whose remains still rest inside the Arizona today.
Dedicated in 1962, the 184-foot long Arizona Memorial sits directly over the sunken ship and attracts over one million visitors each year.
Before exploring the memorial itself, visitors first watch a film that details the events surrounding the Pearl Harbor attack and is comprised entirely of real footage. The grainy black-and-white reels are as powerful as any high-definition resolution screen today and capture burning ships and swooping Japanese planes, providing a powerful picture of the chaos of the attack.
After the film, visitors take a short boat ride across the Harbor to the memorial. At the rear of the building, the names of those killed on the Arizona are engraved on the wall. Look over the memorial's side into the water and you can see parts of the submerged Arizona. Incredibly, even after so many years, the ship still leaks a few quarts of engine oil every day.
As waves gently lap against the side of the memorial and the mountains loom in the distance, Pearl Harbor seems a part of paradise. Yet just below the surface lies a reminder of the country's tragic history.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 7am to 5pm every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and January 1st
- Admission:
- Free
- Contact:
- Location: 1 Arizona Memorial Rd Honolulu, HI
- Phone: 808-422-2771
- Website: www.nps.gov/valr
