How to Visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum in Hawaii
The Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii is an incredibly beautiful monument to one of the saddest incidents in American history. This memorial marks the place where the United States battleship the USS Arizona was attacked and sunk by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. It attracts nearly 1.5 million visitors per year.
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Instructions
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Visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial Museum (actually called the USS Arizona Memorial Museum) almost every day of the year. It is only closed on Thanksgiving day, December 25 and January 1.
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Come early to avoid the crowds. The museum opens at 7:30 a.m., every day of the week, and closes at 5:30 p.m.
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Allow up to 3 hours waiting time during the summer months when attendance is at the highest. Times are shorter during other times of the year, but there will nearly always be a wait.
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Go directly to the visitor's center upon arrival. This is where you will get your tickets for the guided tour of the memorial. It also houses the museum, the bookstore and several exhibits.
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Listen for your number to be called. You will gather for the tour which includes a 23-minute film, a boat ride to the memorial and a self-guided tour of the memorial at the site.
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Tour the actual museum while waiting for your visit to the memorial to begin. It offers an interesting take on the everyday lives of soldiers before the attacks. You will find an extensive collection of photographs of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii before and after the attacks, memorabilia from those who were in the attacks, as well as other exhibits.
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Make sure to take time to look at the Shrine Room on the memorial which lists the names of the 1,177 soldiers who lost their lives on the USS Arizona when it was bombed.
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Visit the USS Arizona website for information on directions, hours and answers to frequently asked questions (see Resources below).
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Tips & Warnings
This is a very family friendly museum. The memorial is open to all ages and admission is free.
Use the storage facilities located outside the visitor's center to store purses, diaper bags and other similar containers, which are prohibited in the memorial.
Dress appropriately for your visit to the memorial. Temperatures in Hawaii average about 80 degrees year round, and you will be outdoors for a great part of the tour.
Turn off your cell phone while touring the museum and memorial. Talking on phones is not permitted during the tour.
