USS Arizona Memorial
About This Museum
Out in Pearl Harbor, the water is deceptively calm. The white, bridge-like structure of the USS Arizona Memorial seems to float just above the surface, a silent testament to the lives lost on December 7, 1941. Stepping onto the memorial, you look down directly into the sunken hull of the battleship, where over a thousand sailors and marines remain entombed. It's a profoundly quiet and moving experience, underscored by the slow seep of oil—'the black tears of the Arizona'—that still rises from the wreckage over eighty years later.
Collection Highlights
The experience centers on the sunken battleship itself, visible beneath the memorial floor. The shrine room's marble wall is etched with the names of every crew member who perished. A small museum onshore displays personal artifacts recovered from the ship, like a sailor's shaving kit and a salvaged ship's bell.
Visitor Information
You'll need to get free timed tickets for the Navy boat shuttle that takes you out to the memorial; they're available online and go quickly. Plan to arrive early and allow at least a few hours for your entire visit, which includes a poignant documentary film.
Architecture & Building
The memorial is a stark white, 184-foot-long structure that spans the sunken battleship without touching it. Its design features a sag in the center and ends that rise high, representing initial defeat and ultimate victory.
Contact & Location
Address: USS Arizona Memorial, Langley Avenue, Nob Hill, Waipahu, Honolulu County, Hawaii, 96860, United States
Phone: +1 808-422-3399
Website: Visit Website
