Everything You Didn’t Know About Pearl Harbor—Until Now
Dive deep into the pivotal moments and hidden stories of Pearl Harbor, where history comes alive. This 18-part journey will guide you through the events of December 7, 1941, the aftermath, and its enduring legacy.
1. Attack Overview at the Visitor Center
Start your journey at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, where you can get an overview of the attack through multimedia exhibits that set the stage for what you’ll discover.
2. USS Arizona Memorial
Visit the resting place of 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives during the attack. The memorial stands above the sunken battleship and serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost.
3. Ford Island Control Tower
The newly opened observation deck offers a unique view of the harbor and the surrounding shipyards that were targeted during the raid.
4. USS Oklahoma Memorial
Dedicated to the 429 sailors who died when their battleship capsized, this memorial features black granite walls and marble standards representing each sailor.
5. USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
Explore the USS Bowfin, known as the “Pearl Harbor Avenger,” which played a crucial role in the Pacific submarine campaign after the attack.
6. Pacific Aviation Museum
Located on Ford Island, this museum houses WWII aircraft and personal stories of the aviators who flew them, offering insights into the aerial aspects of the attack.
7. Battleship Missouri Memorial
Tour the USS Missouri, where the Japanese surrender took place, effectively ending WWII. The ship’s decks offer historical contexts and a view back to the start of U.S. involvement in the war.
8. West Loch Disaster Remembrance
Learn about a lesser-known event at Pearl Harbor, where an explosion in 1944 killed 163 personnel and destroyed six ships, highlighting the ongoing dangers even after the initial attack.
9. Attack Path Walkthrough
Follow the path of the Japanese attack with a guided tour that explains the tactics and minute-by-minute breakdown of the morning’s events.
10. Hickam Field Damage Tour
Visit Hickam Field, where bullet holes and bomb damage from the attack can still be seen on the old hangars and buildings.
11. Pearl Harbor Survivor Stories
Engage with the personal stories of survivors, through either a guided audio tour or presentations by historians who recount eyewitness accounts and heroics.
12. Naval Base Pearl Harbor
Take a boat tour around the active naval base and see the modern Pacific Fleet, connecting past events to present military readiness.
13. USS Utah Memorial
Visit the lesser-known USS Utah, another battleship that was sunk during the attack, now memorialized on the opposite side of Ford Island.
14. Pearl Harbor Aviation Tour
A helicopter tour provides a bird’s-eye view of the entire harbor, including the key sites of the 1941 attack and the surrounding area.
15. Defense of Pearl Harbor Exhibit
Examine an exhibit dedicated to the defensive efforts during the attack, including anti-aircraft weapons and strategies that were used in response.
16. East Loch and the Submarine Base
Explore the area where several submarines were docked during the attack and learn about their role and responses to the aerial assault.
17. Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater
Watch historical footage and documentaries that detail the day of the attack, providing visual context to the extent of the devastation.
18. Reflections at Pearl Harbor
Conclude your tour with a moment of reflection at the Remembrance Circle, honoring all who served and sacrificed during the pivotal moments of WWII.
Remembering the Heroes
This comprehensive journey through Pearl Harbor not only educates about the events of December 7, 1941, but also honors the resilience and bravery of those who fought and those who fell. It’s a profound experience that connects the past with the ongoing legacy of this historic site.
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Doug Phillips.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
