Things to do nearUSS Missouri Battleship Museum (BB-63)

The USS Missouri (BB-63) earned the nickname Mighty Mo during a distinguished naval career that spanned five decades, from her commissioning in 1944 through her final decommissioning in 1992. She saw combat in the Pacific during World War II, served again during the Korean War, and was reactivated in the 1980s before participating in Operation Desert Storm. Her most celebrated moment came on September 2, 1945, when representatives of Japan and the Allied Powers gathered on her deck in Tokyo Bay to sign the instruments of surrender, bringing World War II to a formal close.

Today, moored at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, she is preserved as a museum ship administered by the USS Missouri Memorial Association. Visitors can walk her expansive teak decks, stand beside the massive 16-inch gun turrets, and explore restored crew quarters, the combat engagement center, and the captain's cabin. Interpretive exhibits trace her full service history with photographs, artifacts, and personal accounts from the sailors who served aboard her.

The museum also offers specialized tours including a below-decks experience and an evening program for those who want a quieter, more contemplative visit. The setting itself adds weight to every exhibit, with the USS Arizona Memorial visible across the harbor as a constant reminder of the day that drew America into the war Missouri would help end. Few historic sites in the United States place you this close to the physical evidence of world-changing events.