Battleship Missouri Memorial

Today I finally got around to taking my daughter to the Missouri Memorial. Battleship Missouri Memorial ticketing and shuttle transportation is available at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, which is located next to the USS Arizona Memorial just outside Pearl Harbor.

Tickets are 20$ for adults, 15$ for local/military and 10$ for children 4-12.Admission and transportation is included with the  Oahu Go Card

Off in the distance, the family can take in a view of the Arizona Memorial from the pier.

There is bench at the end of the pier that provides great photo ops of old Mighty Mo and her 16 inch guns that once hurled 1,800-pound shells as heavy as Volkswagens.

My daughter had fun looking through all the spaces inside the skin of the ship.

We learned from the tour in front of us that In 1991, the Mighty Mo was deployed to the Persian Gulf where it fired its 16-inch guns and launched Tomahawk missiles against Iraqi positions during Operation Desert Storm.

In 1992, the Missouri was decommissioned for the second time. In 1995, it was removed from the Navy’s ship registry, later donated by the Navy for preservation as a memorial museum.

One of many machine guns on port and starboard side of the ship.

Encased in this glass lies a replica of the captain's uniform and the wardroom (officer's dining room) etiquette rules.

Mighty Mo's aft brow.

    
The Missouri secured its place in history as the site of Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces on Sept. 2, 1945, ending World War II. The ceremony for the signing of the Formal Instrument of Surrender was conducted by Supreme Allied Commander, General Douglas A. MacArthur. Above and below are copies of the surrender at the actual site of the deck plates where it all took place.

   
At the main entrance they have a simulated pilot house where the kids can pretend they are captain.

The victory store is a gift shop with nostalgic memorabilia and souvenirs to remember your visit. Next to the Victory Store you can pick up your souvenir photo. They also give you a photocard number where you can add your photo to facebook for free.

   Next to the gift shop is a cafe where they sell hamburgers, hot dogs, and snacks. The menu items where uninspiring to us so we grabbed a light snack and hung out with the birds.

  Here is a departing shot of the Missouri's massive guns. Almost as big as mine. In all seriousness, this battleship is legendary and is worthy of your time to explore.  Your family will walk away with a history lesson they will never forgot.


From Waikiki, take the H1 freeway and follow the "Pearl Harbor" overhead highway signs to the airport. DO NOT TAKE THE "NAVAL BASE" EXIT. Take the exit labeled "Arizona Memorial / Stadium", exit #15A.  Follow the brown "Pearl Harbor Historic Sites" roadside signs. The brown signs will lead you directly to the USS Arizona Memorial visitors center and the adjacent USS Bowfin Submarine Museum.

Have fun and remember to share your experiences here at oahufamilyactivities.com.