Things to do nearUSS Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii, honors the sailors and Marines lost on December 7, 1941, with a solemn waterside shrine and moving museum exhibits.
The USS Arizona Memorial marks one of the most consequential moments in American history. On the morning of December 7, 1941, a surprise aerial attack on Pearl Harbor drew the United States into World War II. The USS Arizona sank in under nine minutes after a bomb detonated its forward ammunition magazine, and the loss of life aboard a single ship was staggering. The memorial, dedicated in 1962, was designed by Alfred Preis and sits directly above the submerged wreck, which remains a designated war grave.
Visitors begin their experience at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center, where a 23-minute documentary film provides essential context before the boat ride to the structure itself. Inside the open-air memorial, the Shrine Room displays a marble wall engraved with the names of every sailor and Marine killed aboard the Arizona. On clear days you can look down through the water and see the outline of the hull below.
The surrounding Pearl Harbor National Memorial encompasses several other sites worth exploring on the same visit, including the USS Missouri, where Japan formally surrendered in 1945, just a short distance away on Ford Island.
Few places in the United States carry this kind of weight, and the USS Arizona Memorial delivers it with quiet dignity that stays with visitors long after they leave.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting USS Arizona Memorial
Visit as early in the morning as possible, since timed boat passes fill quickly and the site is busiest by midday.
Reserve your free boat-pass tickets in advance through the National Park Service website, as walk-up availability is limited.
Bring water and sun protection for the outdoor queuing areas, which offer little shade in the Hawaiian sun.
Allow at least half a day to visit the nearby museum exhibits and documentary film before your boat departure.
Dress respectfully and note that open-toed shoes, backpacks, and bags larger than a small purse are not permitted on the memorial structure.
Top tours & experiences near USS Arizona Memorial
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona & Historic Honolulu City Tour
Connect Pearl Harbor’s wartime history with Honolulu’s past, with lunch included
Guided Pearl Harbor Memorial Tour From Waikiki
Trace the story of December 7, 1941 with Waikiki pickup
Pearl Harbor World War II Guided Tour From Kauai
Fly from Kauai for a guided day at Pearl Harbor’s historic sites
Private Pearl Harbor All-Access Tour
See Pearl Harbor’s major memorials, museums and battleships with admissions included
Pearl Harbor & Oahu Circle Island Tour From Kona
Fly from Kona for Pearl Harbor history and an Oahu island tour
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour
Trace Pearl Harbor’s history across 29 narrated stops in your language
Pearl Harbor Tour with USS Arizona & Missouri from Waikiki
Trace Oahu's World War II history from Waikiki
Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour Day Trip From Maui
Connect Hawaii's wartime history with its civic heritage on a narrated island day trip
Pearl Harbor Self-Guided Multimedia Tour
Trace December 7, 1941 through narrated stops and virtual reality
Pearl Harbor World War II Tour From Maui
A Maui-to-Oahu Pearl Harbor day trip with flights and lunch
Pearl Harbor National Memorial Guided Tour
Skip Pearl Harbor ticket lines with reserved admission and guide insight
Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour with USS Arizona Memorial
Trace Pearl Harbor history with museums, monuments and narrated transport
Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour With USS Arizona
Visit the USS Arizona Memorial, then tour Honolulu landmarks
5-Hour Pearl Harbor Guided Tour From Waikiki
Trace the history of December 7 at Pearl Harbor from Waikiki
Explore Pearl Harbor on a WWII Guided Tour
Fly from Kona for a guided Pearl Harbor WWII day
Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial & Honolulu City Tour
Visit the USS Arizona Memorial, then tour historic Honolulu by narrated drive
Private Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Tour
Discover Pearl Harbor history and Honolulu landmarks in one private day
Pearl Harbor Air Raid Virtual Reality Experience
Step onto the USS Utah deck and explore the Pearl Harbor attack in virtual reality
Pearl Harbor & USS Missouri Tour From Ko Olina
Explore Oahu's World War II history at landmark sites
Pearl Harbor & Honolulu City Guided Tour
Explore Pearl Harbor's wartime story with a narrated drive through Honolulu
Guided Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial Tour
Travel Pearl Harbor’s historic sites by private limousine with reserved USS Arizona access
Pearl Harbor WWII Virtual Reality Experience
See the December 7 attack from a fighter cockpit in virtual reality
Private Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Memorial Limousine Tour
Explore Pearl Harbor’s December 7 history with a private guide and refreshments
Virtual Reality Tour of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor
Dive beneath Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona as it rests today