Pearl Harbor was established as a U.S. naval base in 1908, and remains a vital part of the U.S. defense establishment today. Pearl Harbor is a national historic landmark because of its essential contribution to the rise of the U.S. as a major power in the Pacific and the crucial role it played in World War II, beginning with the Dec. 7 attack.
Battleship Missouri Memorial
The Battleship Missouri (BB-63) launched in 1944, by Margaret Truman (daughter of US President Harry S. Truman) has engaged in many wars: World War II, Korean War and Persian Gulf War. It is most famous for being the site where the the Empire of Japan, surrendered to the Allied Forces, signifying the end of World War II. For more information, call (808) 423-2263.
USS Arizona Memorial and Visitor's Center
The USS Arizona Memorial is a memorial erected to honor the 1,177 men killed onboard the USS Arizona (BB 39). The Rise at the end where the pier is located represents the strength of the United States military forces before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The dip in the center represents our defeat here at Pearl Harbor at the beginning of World War II. The rise at the opposite end represents our ultimate victory over the Japanese and the end of World War II. There are 7 windows on each side in the center and 7 windows on the top in the center. They represent a perpetual 21 gun salute. The small opening all the way aft is the tree of life. The memorial is divided into three sections. The first section is the Plaque and Museum Room. The center section is the Viewing and Ceremonies room, and the last section is the Shrine Room, where the names of all of the men who were killed the fateful morning of December 7, 1941, are displayed.
Ford Island Dispensary
The Ford Island Dispensary still stands as it did in 1941 -- serving the medical needs of Sailors assigned to Ford Island.
John Wayne House
Built in 1923, the "John Wayne House" (Quarters 30) was originally located closer to where the Battleship Missouri is today. Prior to filming the movie "In Harm's Way," the production company moved the house to its current location and added a small back room. The reasons for the move vary. The most prevalent suggestion is that since it is a little smaller than the other houses, it would accentuate the actor's size. Once production was finished, the house remained in its location. Since then, the two-bedroom bungalow has housed officers and their families. The residents have an "In Harm's Way" party every year on the Saturday prior to the Dec. 7 commemoration ceremony. About 20 yards away, the original Arizona Memorial stands directly across from where the battleship sank. The large rock monument, erected on Dec. 7, 1955, is one of several historical markers stationed around the island.
Lockwood Hall (BOQ Building 662)
Constructed in 1934, these art deco styled buildings are the architectural treasures of the Submarine Base. Art Deco has been one of the architectural styles well-received in Hawaii. It uses stepped solid wall massing with fine cast concrete window details. Anecdotal evidence suggests that during World War II, the concrete lanai was painted with a map of the Pacific area of responsibility (AOR) and used for war games while Marines guarded the building entrances. During the 1960's the Bachelor Officers Quarters (BOQ) was named in honor of VADM Charles A. Lockwood for his legendary services as COMSUBPAC during World War II.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel
The Pearl Harbor Memorial Chapel was built in 1980 in honor of the Sailors who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
Parche Submarine Memorial
The superstructure is from the World War II submarine PARCHE (pronounced par-chee), SS 384, which deployed on 6 war patrols, sinking 31,696 tons of enemy shipping. She earned 5 battle stars and a presidential unit citation. Her skipper, later ADM Lawson P. "Red" Ramage, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his involvement in the sinking of 5 enemy ships during a 46-minute surface engagement. The memorial is located in the Submarine Memorial Park in Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Pearl Harbor Memorial Fountain
Pearl Harbor Memorial does not focus on a single ship, but attempts to recognize all the ships sunk or damaged that fateful morning of December 7, 1941. The following are memorialized in the glass panels: USS Arizona, USS California, USS Helena, USS Honolulu, USS Maryland, USS Nevada, USS Oklahoma, USS Pennsylvania, USS Raleigh, USS Tennessee and USS West Virginia. The memorial fountain is located inside Naval Station Pearl Harbor. The memorial comprises 12 eight-foot metal and glass markers that rise from a shallow pool surrounding a fountain. Eleven of the markers represent ships and the twelfth reads a dedication to all those that risked and sacrificed so much the day of the attack. Each marker is made up of a unique metal station and an illuminated panel of glass. The ships' descriptions and the dedication are etched into the glass. The driving force for the memorial fountain originally was then-Capt. Dennis Blair, former commanding officer of Naval Station Pearl Harbor. (Adm. Blair retired as Commander-in-Chief, US Pacific Fleet in 2002). He turned to the Navy League for help. The fountain, donated by the Honolulu Council of the Navy League headed by businessman Robert Tim Guard, was originally dedicated in 1992. In 1995, it was rededicated after the completion of major repairs (the original memorial had design flaws). The Navy League formed an organization called "The Friends of Pearl Harbor" to handle the many contributions and other paperwork the project generated. Mr. Jack J. McGarrity designed the fountain and its plaza at no cost.
Submarine Memorial Chapel, Pearl Harbor
The Submarine Memorial Chapel was dedicated on Sept. 10, 1944 in honor of the Submariners who died in World War II. The Chapel was built by volunteer craftsmen from SUBASE Carpenter and Building Shops. The original colored glass windows were replaced in 1959 by panels fashioned after the original templates. From inside the chapel, a small submarine may be seen in the lower portion of each window. The ships bell from the submarine USS ARGONAUT (SS 166) still hangs in the steeple. ARGONAUT's crew donated the bell before she left on her third war patrol. She was sunk in action off Rabaul, January 10, 1943. All hands were lost - their ship's bell still tolls for them.
USS Utah Memorial
In memory of the six officers and 52 Sailors who perished on USS Utah (AG-16) the morning of December 7, 1941, the Utah Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day of 1972. The Utah Memorial is an elegant, white 70-foot concrete walkway stretched out from Ford Island, extending into the waters in front of Utah’s partially exposed hull. A polished brass plaque commemorating the ship and crew stands watch at the base of a flagpole. A Navy color guard daily raises and lowers the American flag in the corner of the 40-foot by 15 foot viewing platform in front of the ship.
USS Nevada Memorial
USS Nevada Memorial stands as a continuing reminder of the day that changed Pearl Harbor and America forever. The memorial, which is located along the shoreline near Hospital Point on Pearl Harbor, was dedicated on Dec. 7, 1983 commemorating the heroism and sacrifice of the 50 men onboard the Nevada (BB 36) who lost their lives.
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park is a memorial dedicated to USS Bowfin (SS 287) and other submarines that served with distinction during World War II. They were responsible for destroying over half of the enemy's forces ships. Approximately 3,500 submarines lost their lives during WW II. The USS Bowfin is a Balao class fleet submarine and is highly representative of U.S. submarines used during World War II. She was launched 7 December 1942, a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Known as "Pearl Harbor Avenger, " she made nine successful war patrols. For more information, call (808) 423-1341
Pacific Aviation Museum
- Located on Pearl Harbor's Ford Island, it is one of our country's leading aviation museums, and the only one dedicated to the defense of freedom in the Pacific. With actual aircraft from World War II, plus educational interpretations of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Doolittle Raid on Japan, the Battles of Midway and Guadacanal, and more! It is a must-visit for families and visitors alike.