USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor Memorial

USS Arizona Memorial commemorates the lives lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor with a unique architectural structure that floats over the hull of the Arizona without touching or disturbing the remains of the ship that was sunk during the attack. The attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the Arizona marks the historic moment that launched the United States into World War II. One of America’s most important landmarks, every United States President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt has paid his respects at the USS Arizona Memorial site. For more information about the memorial, go to www.nps.gov/usar.

Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial.

Visiting The USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor Memorial in Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime experience which is accessible only by boat service from the Visitor’s Center. Upon entering the USS Arizona Memorial, you will be able to line up and receive a number which will allow you to take part in a guided tour. Self-guided tours are also an option, as there may be a wait of up to 3 hours for tours in the busiest summer months. For more details on planning a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, visit www.nps.gov/valr/planyourvisit/index.htm.  [Top]

Pearl Harbor & World War II Timeline

• December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor is attacked by the Japanese
• During the attack on Pearl Harbor, 1,177 sailors are killed aboard the USS Arizona
• 1,102 of the sailors killed aboard go down with the ship
• War is declared, and the US enters World War II as a direct result of the Pearl Harbor attack  [Top]

USS Arizona Memorial Architecture.

The USS Arizona Memorial memorializes the landmark place in history that Pearl Harbor occupies and the brave heroes who fought on the day of the attack that led to American involvement in World War II. The architect of the USS Arizona Memorial was Austrian-born Alfred Preis, himself a detainee at Sand Island during the start of the war. Measuring 184 foot long/56 meters long, the memorial is divided into three major parts: entry, assembly room and shrine and was commissioned by the United States Navy.  [Top]

History of the USS Arizona Memorial.

Dedicated in 1962, the USS Arizona Memorial is one of America’s most visited landmarks, with more than one million people paying their respects at the Hawaii memorial each year. Today, the remains of the Arizona are administrated by the United States National Park Service and were declared a National Historic Landmark on May 5, 1989. In 1999, the USS Arizona was joined by the battleship USS Missouri. It on the USS Missouri that the Japanese surrendered to United States and World War II came to an end, bringing the story full circle. To learn more about the history of the USS Arizona Memorial, visit http://www.nps.gov/valr/historyculture/index.htm.  [Top]