USS Missouri (BB-63) Museum

WWII battleship preserved as a museum at Pearl Harbor

Battleship Missouri sits at Pearl Harbor's Ford Island as the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Tourists board to see the ship where WWII's Japanese surrender took place, view exhibits, and combine visits with the USS Arizona Memorial nearby.

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USS Missouri (BB-63) at a Glance#

Address: 100 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818, United States (Ford Island/Pearl Harbor area)

Website: https://ussmissouri.org/

Hours: Daily 8:00am-5:00pm (museum hours; pier tours/times may vary)

Admission: Adult admission to USS Missouri and Pearl Harbor National Memorial ranges (guided tour ticket pricing may apply) - typical museum ticket around $30; active military and some categories free or reduced.

About 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.

How to Get to USS Missouri (BB-63)#

The USS Missouri is located at Pearl Harbor on Ford Island, accessible via shuttle and visitor facilities run by the USS Missouri Memorial Association and the National Park Service. The site is a short drive from Honolulu; public tours and timed-entry tickets are recommended.

Tips for Visiting USS Missouri (BB-63)#

  • Book the USS Missouri's onboard tour in advance - timed entries and security screening apply.
  • Combine a visit with the USS Arizona Memorial to get both the ship's late-war history and the Pacific War's beginning and end in one day.
  • Bring ID and allow extra time for security checks at Pearl Harbor visitor facilities.

Best Time to Visit USS Missouri (BB-63)#

USS Missouri (BB-63) is an Iowa-class battleship berthed at Pearl Harbor (Ford Island), Hawaii, preserved as a museum ship where the Japanese surrender in 1945 was signed aboard.

Dry season
April-October · 24-31°C (75-88°F)
Warmer, drier weather with more predictable sea conditions for harbor visits.
Shoulder months
March and November · 22-29°C (72-84°F)
Fewer tourists than peak winter months; pleasant visiting conditions.

Weather & Climate near USS Missouri (BB-63)#

Climate

Subtropical climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 18°C to 31°C. Moderate rainfall (789 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 17 Good
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
31°
Warmest Month
18°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January - 18° - 27° 23° 113 mm - - 4.2 m/s - -
February - 18° - 27° 23° 68 mm - - 4.3 m/s - -
March - 19° - 28° 23° 63 mm - - 4.8 m/s - -
April - 20° - 28° 24° 59 mm - - 4.8 m/s - -
May - 21° - 29° 25° 51 mm - - 4.6 m/s - -
June - 22° - 30° 26° 45 mm - - 4.8 m/s - -
July - 23° - 31° 27° 67 mm - - 5.0 m/s - -
August - 23° - 31° 27° 47 mm - - 4.7 m/s - -
September - 23° - 31° 27° 38 mm - - 4.3 m/s - -
October - 22° - 30° 26° 71 mm - - 4.3 m/s - -
November - 21° - 29° 25° 75 mm - - 4.4 m/s - -
December - 20° - 28° 24° 92 mm - - 4.2 m/s - -

Nearby Attractions to USS Missouri (BB-63)#