Jaluit was the administrative capital of the Marshall Islands under both German and Japanese colonial rule, and the remnants of that history are scattered across the atoll. Japanese fortifications, a seaplane base, and the ruins of the colonial administration are still visible on the southern islets. During World War II, Jaluit was a major Japanese naval base and was heavily bombed by US forces; the lagoon holds a number of wrecks that have barely been explored by divers. The colonial-era history is most concentrated around Jabwor, the main village, where the German and Japanese administrations both had their headquarters.
Today Jaluit is quiet and largely agricultural, home to fewer than a thousand people. There is no tourist infrastructure to speak of. Field trip ships from Majuro call occasionally, and Air Marshall Islands serves the atoll when schedules permit. Visitors need to make advance arrangements for accommodation with local families or churches.
The atoll's lagoon is large and protected, and the outer reef offers excellent diving and snorkelling for those who come equipped. Copra production and fishing remain the main occupations.