Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial

Hovering above the shadowy remains of the USS Arizona is a memorial experience unlike any other. There’s a solemn air on these hallowed grounds, where remnants of the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor draw visitors of all ages and nationalities. Your visit begins on shore, where an information center beckons you back to 1941 through photos, models, artifacts and a documentary film. It’s best to reserve tickets in advance; there are also first-come, first-served tickets available but you may have to wait a few hours. When it’s your turn, a ferry takes you out to the Arizona’s final resting place. Floor cutaways in the memorial serve as portals to the past, enabling views of the vessel underfoot, where oil still seeps from its bowels to the surface. Pay homage to the 1,177 whose names flank the Shrine Room’s marble wall, representing more than half of those who fell that day. The memorial is also a poignant celebration of life, with Pearl Harbor veterans recounting compelling stories of survival. After visiting the Arizona, lose yourself at the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument, the USS Missouri and the aviation and submarine museums. It’s said you’ll come for a day and remember for a lifetime.