USS Missouri (BB-63)

USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class United States Navy battleship now preserved as a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Commissioned during World War II, it is widely known as the site where Japan formally surrendered on 2 September 1945.

The ship displays its main deck, gun turrets and restored internal spaces with interpretive exhibits covering its wartime and postwar service, including Korea and later reactivation in the late 20th century. Visitors can tour much of the ship, view armament layouts and see museum displays about its service.

Missouri was commissioned in 1944, served in late World War II and was the location of the formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay; it later saw service in other conflicts and was decommissioned and turned into a memorial and museum in Pearl Harbor.

It is berthed at Ford Island within the Pearl Harbor historic complex on Oahu, adjacent to other memorial sites and accessible to the public through the Pearl Harbor visitor facilities.

• Historic event: An Iowa-class battleship 270 metres in length, famous for hosting the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945 and later preserved as a museum ship in Pearl Harbor.
• Location and access: Located on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor and typically reached by a short ferry or shuttle from the visitor centre and parking area on Oahu.

What to See #

• Main deck and turrets: The ship's main deck and superstructure are open to visitors, including passages through the forward and aft gun turrets and walkways showing the ship's armament layout.
• Exhibit spaces and memorial areas: A museum and visitor spaces on board presenting the ship's service history, the events of 2 September 1945 and displays of artifacts and interpretive panels.
• Berthing and visitor access: The ship is berthed at Ford Island within Pearl Harbor; boarding is by shuttle or ferry from the visitor facilities at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites complex.