Two Hours That Changed America Forever Are Commemorated at This Hawaiian Naval Memorial

Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Hawaii

The attack lasted two hours. The memorial has stood for generations. Pearl Harbor draws people from around the world to this quiet corner of Oahu, where history feels as real as the morning sun. The waters hold sunken ships, the halls hold survivors’ stories, and the air holds a strange peace.

Here are some highlights of visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii.

A Powerful, Moving Documentary

Your Pearl Harbor experience begins with a moving 23-minute documentary shown in the memorial’s theater. It details strategy behind both waves of Japanese attacks on what it calls “Battlefield Oahu.”

The documentary plays a crucial role in setting the stage for your USS Arizona Memorial visit. Using actual footage from December 7, the film connects personal stories to the bigger historical picture.

Learn About How the War Began

The “Road to War” exhibit shows you what led to the December 7 attack through compelling artifacts, newsreel footage, and photographs.

You’ll see glimpses of American life before the war, setting the stage for understanding how dramatically everything changed.

Displays take you inside 1930s Japan, telling the story of Japanese expansion into China through authentic photographs and historical documents.

You’ll learn how America’s response to Japanese aggression, including cutting off oil trade, created tensions despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.

The “Oahu 1941” section lets you experience life on the island just before the attack, putting you in the shoes of locals who had no idea what was about to happen.

Museum displays reveal how Japanese officials sent diplomats to America while secretly planning a military strike, hoping to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet before America could fully enter the war.

Explore the Day That Changed History

The “Attack and Aftermath” exhibit brings you face-to-face with the Pearl Harbor attack through personal stories, artifacts, photos, and films. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of how the assault pulled the United States into World War II.

One display that might grab your attention shows the deadly torpedo bombers, explaining how Japanese engineers modified their torpedoes for Pearl Harbor’s shallow waters.

Americans had believed the harbor was too shallow for such attacks, creating a fatal blind spot in their defenses.

A sobering radar story reveals how two American servicemen spotted approaching Japanese planes on their equipment but got brushed off by an officer who thought they were friendly aircraft.

Notable artifacts include a scale model of the USS Arizona Memorial with wreckage, a rare Japanese “Kate” bomber, and the only recovered World War II Japanese torpedo from the attack.

Resting Place Beneath Harbor Waters

USS Arizona serves as the final home for over 900 of the ship’s 1,177 crew members who died during the attack.

Standing on the memorial, you might notice small drops of oil still rising to the surface, creating what many describe as “black tears” that continue to seep from the wreckage over eight decades later.

When Arizona sank, it held 1.4 million gallons of fuel onboard, a stark reminder of how suddenly these sailors’ lives were cut short. Outside at the visitor center entrance, you can see one of Arizona’s massive 19,585-pound anchors and one of the ship’s original bells, both recovered from the harbor.

A United States flag flies from a flagpole connected to the severed mainmast of the sunken battleship, paying ongoing tribute to the ship and her lost crew.

Circular Tribute to Military Heroism

Just beyond the USS Arizona’s bell in the open area outside the main galleries, you’ll discover the Remembrance Circle honoring Medal of Honor recipients from World War II.

This thoughtfully designed space provides a peaceful spot with views toward the USS Arizona Memorial across the harbor.

A concrete circular structure surrounds a pedestal holding a topographical map of Oahu, helping you visualize the attack’s scope. Each Medal of Honor recipient who died on December 7, 1941, gets individual recognition here, honoring their extraordinary heroism.

Walking Path Along Historic Waters

Along the harbor shoreline, you’ll find a path lined with interpretive signs creating your own self-guided history walk. These shoreside markers help you understand how the attack unfolded across what now looks like a peaceful harbor.

From various vantage points, you can see Pearl Harbor’s strategic importance while visualizing ship locations during the attack. The walkway includes multiple signs, plaques, and tributes providing additional context about December 7, 1941.

Remembering Sailors on Capsized Battleship

A short distance away on Ford Island stands the USS Oklahoma Memorial, paying tribute to 429 sailors and Marines who died when the battleship capsized during the attack. This moving memorial sits at the exact spot where Oklahoma was moored that fateful morning.

After the USS Arizona, the Oklahoma suffered the second-highest number of casualties during the Pearl Harbor attack. White marble standards represent each sailor lost aboard the vessel, creating a visual reminder of individual lives cut short.

Travel Back in Time Through Virtual Reality

Inside the visitor center courtyard, you’ll find the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center offering immersive experiences for $7.99 per person.

You can “Walk the Deck of the USS Arizona Before the Attack,” exploring the battleship as it was before December 7 and meeting crew members aboard one of that era’s most powerful warships.

Try “Air Raid Pearl Harbor” to stand on the USS Utah’s deck during both waves of the Japanese air attacks, experiencing the timeline with 360-degree views of the unfolding battle.

“Skies Over Pearl” puts you in a Japanese fighter cockpit taking off from the aircraft carrier Akagi northeast of Oahu as it heads toward the unsuspectin

Jamie Lee Curtis Audio Tour

For a more personal experience, pick up the self-guided audio tour narrated by actress Jamie Lee Curtis for $7.99. This helpful guide walks you through 29 stops including both museums, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the Walk of Remembrance.

Your audio program syncs perfectly with the gallery exhibits, providing extra details and context for what you’re seeing. Multiple language options make the memorial experience accessible to international visitors from around the world.

Simply pick up your headset near the Information Desk at the Visitors Center, then move at your own pace through the various exhibits and memorials.

Glimpses of History Through Preserved Objects

Throughout the Pearl Harbor exhibits, you’ll encounter significant artifacts recovered from the USS Arizona and other damaged vessels.

Museum displays combine multimedia presentations with historic photos, films, illustrated graphics, and recorded personal stories that make the events feel immediate and real.

Scale models showing the harbor layout during the attack help you understand the tactical situation and why certain ships were targeted.

Personal belongings of sailors who died bring home the human cost of the assault, transforming statistics into individual lives lost.

Before leaving, you might want to visit the bookstore stocked with books and films about the Pearl Harbor attack and World War II’s Pacific campaigns, along with detailed maps of the battle.

These items let you continue learning after your visit ends. Each carefully preserved object serves as a physical link to the past, allowing you to connect with history in a tangible way beyond what photos or text alone could convey.

Healing Wounds Between Former Enemies

Among the most thought-provoking exhibits stands the Sadako Sasaki display dedicated to world peace, featuring a paper crane donated by her Hiroshima family.

This poignant connection between Pearl Harbor and the war’s end creates a full circle of historical understanding.

Displays cover both the declaration of war on Japan and the controversial internment of Japanese-Americans in camps, presenting this complex chapter of American history honestly.

You’ll also learn about Japanese-Americans who volunteered to fight against Axis powers despite facing discrimination at home, demonstrating remarkable patriotism.

A dedicated section tells the story of atomic bomb survivors, including a Hiroshima victim who later died from radiation-induced leukemia.

Planning Your Visit

Pearl Harbor National Memorial welcomes visitors daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours to properly experience the main sites, though a full day allows you to also visit the nearby Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, and Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum for a complete understanding of Pearl Harbor’s story.

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