The attack on the naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and the sinking of several ships. The attack also led to the United States’s involvement in World War II. Today, Pearl Harbor is a national memorial, which commemorates the lives lost during the attack.

Pearl Harbor is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, just a few miles away from Honolulu. While Pearl Harbor remains an active military base, portions of the area have been set aside as Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Visitors to the site are able to walk through two exhibit halls, which provide a look at historical events and relationships during the early 1900s, the context of the attack, the strategy of the Japanese in engaging in the attack, a timeline of events as the attack unfolded, and the aftermath of the attack. The exhibits feature both overviews of things, as well as more detailed information and artifacts from specific people. There are also films and video clips that share some of the same information in a different format.

Visitors are also able to take a boat tour from the main area of the memorial to the USS Arizona Memorial. The USS Arizona sank with hundreds of men still on board as a result of the attack. Today, a viewing platform stands above the ship, which is visible in certain places underneath the water. The boat takes only a few minutes to journey to the viewing platform, and visitors are able to spend time walking around the platform, staring into the water at the ship below. A visit to the viewing platform is a somber, but incredibly moving experience.

A visit to Pearl Harbor National Memorial is an interesting and informative experience, though also a sad one. Still, it is a visit that is worthwhile.

Note: While the memorial is free, tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial do cost money, and we highly recommend buying tickets beforehand to ensure you are able to visit.