When you are on Oahu, consider touring the USS Missouri, also known as the Mighty Mo. The USS Missouri has a deep history and now proudly resides in “battleship row” near the USS Arizona and the USS Bowfin in Pearl Harbor.
Probably one of the greatest events in Mighty Mo’s history is that it hosted Japan’s official surrender to the US and marked the end of World War II. When you visit the Mighty Mo, you will see a plaque that commemorates the historic spot.
There are several Mighty Mo tour packages from which to choose. I recommend the guided tours which provides excellent insight and the opportunity to ask questions.
Here are some tips for visiting the USS Missouri:
- Check out the official website.
- The battleship is open for tours daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The only days the battleship is closed for tours are on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Check their website for any changes to their schedule.
- Consider combining the tour of the Mighty Mo on the same day as a tours of these significant sites in Pearl Harbor:
- For security purposes, bags are restricted and limited. See the bag policy link from this Frequently Asked Questions page about visiting Pearl Harbor. If you do bring any bags, there are storage lockers for a fee.
- You are allowed to bring in a bottle of water and it can be quite hot on the decks, so do bring a bottle of water with you.
- Be respectful of these historic areas. You may encounter a military ceremony on your visit.
- Wear sensible, comfortable shoes and clothing as you will be climbing stairs and walking across steel hatches.
- Wear sunscreen and bring a hat.
- Bring your camera or smartphone for photos.
- If you bring your rental car to the parking area, avoid bringing and leaving valuables in your car.
As today is Veteran’s Day, I’d like to close this post with a sincere thank you to all veterans.
Sheila Beal
8 comments
Great story, and thanks for the link to Missouri history! I had lunch on the mess deck during my last visit (I always encourage my readers to have lunch on the MO). It’s cafeteria style food but there is something very moving about eating a meal on the same deck that was occupied by President Harry Truman, among others. Mahalo from Going2Oahu!
Thanks, Going2Oahu, for adding that lunch suggestion.
One thing that I would like to add about visiting the Arizona Memorial is to get there early. They only have two boats that come & go every 15 minutes. If you get there around noon, you’ll be walking around in circles for about tow hours waiting for your boat. If you get there after that, all the boats will be full until the end of the day. They don’t allow diaper bags or any other kind of bag. So… Just unload the bags and carry everything you own in both arms across the entrance and head for the gift shop which is right near the entrance. Buy a postcard or whatever and ask for however many large plastic bags you need to hold your diapers and other stuff.
Hi Dave – I love that idea for getting a bag at the gift shop. Very clever! Thanks!
Note that the Mighty Mo is due to go to dry dock for maintenance in early September 2009 for up to 3 months. It will be unavailable for visits during that time. For more: https://govisithawaii.com/2009/07/01/hawaii-vacation-deals-news-for-july-1-2009/
Yet another update on when the Mighty Mo will be removed for repairs. The new estimate says work will begin in mid-October, 2009. https://govisithawaii.com/2009/09/02/hawaii-vacation-deals-news-roundup-september-2-2009/
I’d definitely recommend a visit to the Missouri for anyone already stopping by the Arizona. We did the guided tour and for few extra bucks I think we got a wealth of information and access that self-tours don’t provide.
ALS – Thanks for sharing your experience at the Mighty Mo. That’s good to know that the guided tours provide extra insight.