Battleship Missouri admission is on the pricier end of the spectrum of offerings at Pearl Harbor, but it is definitely worth seeing. Learn the role of the Missouri in WWII, the Korean War, and Desert Storm. Walk through a good portion of the ship and see everything from bunks to how bread was made.
Battleship Missouri is particularly significant as the site of Japan's official surrender, thus making the Missouri symbolic of the end of WW2 and providing layered meaning to a day trip encompassing visits to both the Arizona (sunken battleship viewed from above memorial for those 1,177 entombed below and symbol of the US' entry into WW2) and Missouri (tour of actual WW2 battleship symbolic of WW2 end that also played a role in subsequent wars). Don't forget to view one from the other.
I consider the Battleship Missouri #2 after the Arizona Memorial, and the Bowfin and Pacific Aviation Museum as tied for #3 (whether you are more interested in submarines or airplanes will place one ahead of the other, and there may be other considerations like time and cost and whether you have toured a battleship or submarine or aircraft before, but all are excellent attractions worth visiting). The Bowfin Submarine, a representative WW2 sub, and accompanying museum provide insight into the perhaps under-appreciated role of submarines in WWII and Pacific Aviation Museum captures the role of aircraft in the war (and a whole lot more) through its displays, vintage aircraft, and historic hangar structures. You are leaving the Waikiki beach for the Arizona, but consider making a day of it and seeing at least one other attraction.
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| Machine shop on the USS Missouri. |
For the Missouri, choose between an excellent 35 minute guided tour, audio self-guided tour (45-120 min), explore on your own, or 75 minute more intimate and strenuous Heart of Missouri Tour for an additional fee (closed shoes required, 10 people max, 10 years or older). After the guided tour portion, you can explore on your own for as long as you want (recommended).
Highly recommend the 35 minute guided tour. Our guide Gabby was EXCELLENT: knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and fun. Our tour made stops at three points along the ship, and it seemed like all tours followed the same path. The audio self-guided tour would probably provide more information about the parts of the ship the 35 min guided tour does not include. The 75 minute Heart of Missouri Tour is said to focus on the power behind the ship. This may be a good option for someone that is already familiar with the Missouri and its history, is reasonably physically fit, has the time, and is interested in an in-depth look at what the ship can do.
This ship is HUGE. There is a lot to see. You will want to spend time looking around on your own no matter which tour option you choose. There are also a couple of videos playing on-board in different places that are interesting but take time to watch. You can easily spend 2-4+ hours here.
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| These benches are made from repurposed gun powder containers. |
Though "toe to toe" with the Arizona, access is by shuttle bus only from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center (see my review of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center for more info on nearby attractions). Waiting for the shuttle takes some time, and while there is shade, the lines can get long and you may have to stand in the hot sun. A hat and sunscreen would be worth wearing. If you have base access, you don't have to use the shuttle.
Do not miss the USS Oklahoma memorial located outside the entrance to the Missouri, beyond the bus pick-up area. No one pointed this out when I visited, so don't forget!
Other things to note:
-There are snacks like shave ice, bottled water, and a gift shop here
-Somewhere on the ship there is a functional water fountain or two
If you book this, I recommend booking at most just one other attraction in the area. If you book three or more attractions in total, you should plan on arriving at 7 am when the Visitor Center opens, staying until they close, taking no breaks, and possibly skipping lunch if you want to try to see everything in one day.
For visitors that want to see it all, the Passport to Pearl Harbor is a good option. Admission to all attractions for two days in a consecutive 7 day period is included, plus an upgraded audio tour of the Arizona Memorial (but don't forget to engage the on-site staff in discussion, as they are a wealth of knowledge). Cost is $65/adult, $35/children 4-12. Two days is a much more reasonable amount of time to see everything.
I do not see a kama'aina rate for the Passport and wasn't offered one. Therefore, if you live here I recommend visiting one or two attractions in a day and making multiple visits to see them all instead of cramming them all into one day. The total cost for basic kama'aina admission to all attractions (not including audio tour of Arizona) is $45, which is less than the Passport and this way you can spread the cost out over time and get the most out of each visit.