Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

1,177 crewman lost their lives on the USS Arizona when the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Hawaii at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor honors all military personnel who died that day. The visitor center is open daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's day) from 7:30 AM to 5 PM. The last tour begins at 3PM.

The tour includes a short film about the attack and a 10 minute ferry ride to the final resting place of the ship in Pearl Harbor. Free tickets for the tour are handed out at the visitor center. The actual memorial is built over top of the sunken ship. It is a solemn place where visitors are asked to be quiet and respectful. Oil still continues to slowly leak from the ship casting a rainbow sheen over the water. There is also a small museum and bookstore located at the Visitor Center.

Official Website:   http://www.nps.gov/usar

New Visitor Center Opened in December 2010

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center was rebuilt and expanded last year. Sorry to say, I have not been out to Pearl Harbor since the new Visitor Center has opened and do not have any new photos or information to post about it. This is definitely on my to-do list, but until then - check out these links that contain information about the new Visitor Center:

New, modernized Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial visitor center
Guided tour to the new Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

Tips:
* This Pearl Harbor memorial can be quite crowded during the summer peak times. Try to get there early. Don't be discouraged if you see a long line outside of the building. It moves rather quickly as people are only waiting to be handed a timed-entry ticket. Your entry time might be an hour or two from when you arrive, which will give you plenty of time to tour the museum or catch a bite to eat. You might even have time to tour the neighboring Bowfin submarine beforehand.

* Note that the following items are prohibited: purses, handbags, fanny packs, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage and/or other items that offer concealment. Cameras and video camcorders are allowed. Storage of the prohibited items is available for a small fee.

Getting there:
The Arizona Memorial is located in the Pearl Harbor area. From Waikiki, take H-1 West past the airport exit. Take the Arizona Memorial exit 15-A. In the far left lane, make a left turn at the fourth traffic light. Parking is free. You can also catch a shuttle from your hotel area. There are many local companies that provide this inexpensive service.

Video of the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor: