The National Park Service site that tells the story of the Dec. 7, 1941 attack, with museum galleries, a waterfront visitor center and the USS Arizona Memorial, reached by Navy boat. Visiting is free, but the memorial program runs on timed tickets.
Why we love it
Standing over the sunken USS Arizona is quiet and moving in a way no museum panel can match, and the park handles it with real care.
What to expect
Plan on the full program: a documentary in the theater, then a Navy-operated boat across the harbor to the white memorial above the USS Arizona, about 45 minutes in all. Arrive an hour before your ticket time and check in at the theater ten minutes ahead. The visitor center grounds have museum exhibits and harbor views, so it is easy to fill a morning. Wind or rain can suspend or change the boat ride. Leave bags at your hotel, since only small clutches and clear bags get through security.
Know before you go
- Tickets
- Book USS Arizona Memorial tickets on Recreation.gov. They release 56 days ahead at 3 p.m. HST, with more released one day ahead at 3 p.m. Same-day tickets are no longer given out at the visitor center.
- Final sale
- Memorial tickets are final and non-transferable, and the $1 reservation fee is non-refundable. Everyone over age 1 needs a ticket.
- Bag policy
- No purses, backpacks or luggage. Clutches up to about 5.5 inches and clear bags are allowed. Paid bag storage is run by the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum near the entrance.
- Parking
- Parking is $7 per day, paid by virtual pay or at an onsite kiosk, not through Recreation.gov. The NPS calls this a high-theft area, so leave nothing in the car.
- Weather
- Boat rides to the memorial may be suspended, modified or canceled for high winds, rain or mechanical problems.
Photo: National Park Service via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
