December 7, 2009 marks the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and The United States' entry into World War II.
Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial remain top tourist destinations in Hawaii with over 1,500,000 visitors annually. The addition of the Battleship Missouri and the 1999 opening of the USS Missouri Memorial has further enhanced the importance of this historic area.
The best time of day to visit the Memorial remains early in the morning before the tour buses arrive.
- The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Interpretive programs, including a 23-minute documentary film about the attack and the boat trip to the USS Arizona Memorial, begin at 8:00 a.m. (7:45 a.m. in the summer). The last program each day begins at 3:00 p.m. The Memorial is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
- Allow 75 minutes for the tour. This does not include time waiting for your tour to begin. Use that time to enjoy the USS Arizona Memorial Museum or waterfront promenade.
- Following the events of September 11, 2001, new security regulations have been implemented. No purses, handbags, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, or other items that offer concealment are allowed in the visitor center or on the Memorial tour. Strollers with pockets and compartments must be empty before being allowed in the visitor center. Personal cameras are allowed.
- Baggage storage is available for a small fee at the nearby USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park and visitors are encouraged to use it.
- Visitors are strongly encouraged either to leave prohibited items at their lodging or lock them in their car trunk before arriving at the parking lot. Theft of items from rental vehicles is common in Hawaii, however, bicycle security patrols the USS Arizona Memorial parking lot.
- In preparation for your visit, I invite you to enjoy our Gallery of 24 Photos of the USS Arizona Memorial, Visitor Center and Museum.
A visit to the USS Arizona Memorial is a solemn and sobering experience, even for those who were not alive when the attack occurred. You are literally standing over a grave site where 1177 men lost their lives.
To help you plan your visit to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial we recommend the following pages which are located on the excellent website Pearl Harbor Remembered. The site was created and is maintained by Donald Schaaf "to honor the survivors of Pearl Harbor, their families and friends and to those who died during the attack on that Sunday morning in December, 1941."
Map of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
Map showing route of Japanese attackers over Oahu
Overview of the Attack
USS Arizona Visitor Center Information and Directions
The best tourist is an informed tourist who respects the past and its role in establishing the present and preserving our future.
Before visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, I suggest that you check out these additional articles and photos here at About.com:
Pearl Harbor Photos
Our collection of photos taken at Pearl Harbor featuring photos of the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin, the USS Missouri and more.
A Brief History of Pearl Harbor Prior to World War II
We look at why we must remember Pearl Harbor. We then look at the history of Pearl Harbor before 1941 and how the United States came to have such a strong military presence in Hawaii.
Lest We Forget: Pearl Harbor - December 7, 1941
We look at the months immediately before the attack. We consider how history is often based on one's perspective of the event. We also look at the attack itself. Finally, we examine both the immediate and lasting effects of the attack on Hawaii.
USS Missouri Memorial
Find out how the USS Missouri came to be berthed in Pearl Harbor, and how you can visit the historic battleship today.
