Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is a natural deep-water harbor on the southern shore of Oahu, Hawaii, and a major U.S. naval base. It is internationally known as the location of the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack that drew the United States into World War II.

Historic and commemorative sites around the harbor include the USS Arizona Memorial, which marks the sunken battleship’s wreck, the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Ford Island where the 1945 surrender was signed, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum. These museum and memorial sites interpret the events of 1941 and the Pacific war.

Pearl Harbor was developed as a naval base in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and expanded through both world wars. The 1941 attack damaged or sank multiple ships and aircraft and led to a rapid military mobilization and long-term base development.

The harbor lies on the south-central coast of Oahu adjacent to Honolulu and is reachable by road from the city and airport; the National Park Service operates the main visitor facilities and boat shuttles to selected memorials.

• Attack date: The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor took place on 7 December 1941 and precipitated the United States' entry into World War II.
• Visitor planning: The visitor complex includes the National Park Service visitor center and memorial sites; many attractions require timed-entry tickets or reservations, especially in peak season.

What to See #

• USS Arizona Memorial: The sunken wreck of USS Arizona lies beneath the **USS Arizona Memorial**, administered by the U.S. National Park Service and reached by short boat shuttle from the visitor center.
• Battleship Missouri Memorial (USS Missouri): Large Iowa-class battleship where the formal Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed on 2 September 1945; now preserved as the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Ford Island.
• USS Bowfin Submarine Museum: A World War II-era submarine preserved as a museum at Pearl Harbor with exhibits on submarine operations and Pacific naval history.