Battleship Missouri

WWII battleship where Japan surrendered in 1945, moored at Pearl Harbor

The USS Missouri — 'Mighty Mo' — is the last American battleship ever built, launched in 1944 and retired in 1992. She served in World War II, Korea, and the Persian Gulf War, and her most famous moment was hosting Japan's formal surrender on 2 September 1945 in Tokyo Bay. She is now moored at Pearl Harbor and open as a museum.

Tours of the Missouri cover the main deck, the gun turrets (the 16-inch guns remain, capable of firing projectiles weighing as much as a Volkswagen Beetle), the bridge, and the surrender deck where the ceremony took place. A self-guided audio tour is the standard option; guided tours are also available. Allow 90 minutes to two hours. The shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center runs regularly.

things to do sight
A story
On 2 September 1945, in Tokyo Bay, General Douglas MacArthur stood on the deck of the USS Missouri to accept Japan's formal surrender, ending the Second World War. The exact spot is marked by a brass plaque on the deck. When the Missouri was brought to Pearl Harbor as a memorial, it was moored so that its bow points toward the USS Arizona memorial — the beginning and the end of America's Pacific War bookending the harbour.