The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is the museum battleship moored on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, where Japan formally surrendered on September 2, 1945, ending World War II.
Known as the “Mighty Mo,” the USS Missouri (BB-63) is the last battleship ever commissioned by the United States Navy. She sits within sight of the USS Arizona Memorial, so the two ships bookend the war: one marks where it began for America, the other where it ended.
Key Points
- The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is the deck where World War II formally ended on September 2, 1945.
- The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is open daily 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with last admission at 3:00 p.m.
- General admission to the USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is $44.99 for adults and $19.99 for children ages 4–12.
- The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial sits on Ford Island, reached only by the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
- Allow 1.5 to 2 hours aboard the USS Missouri Battleship Memorial, plus shuttle time each way.
- The Passport to Pearl Harbor bundles the USS Missouri Battleship Memorial with two more museums over two days.
By Best Pearl Harbor Tours — your guide to Pearl Harbor’s historic ships, written for first-time visitors.
Why the Missouri Matters: The Bookends of World War II
The Arizona Memorial honors the morning of December 7, 1941, when 1,177 crew members were lost aboard the USS Arizona. The Missouri tells the other half of the story.
On September 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur stood on the Missouri’s deck in Tokyo Bay and accepted Japan’s formal surrender. A plaque now marks the exact spot, and the ship was deliberately moored facing the Arizona so visitors can see both bookends at once.
The Missouri also fought in three wars: World War II, the Korean War, and Operation Desert Storm. That long service life is why the ship feels less like a single-war exhibit and more like a floating record of the twentieth-century Navy.
Best Pearl Harbor Tours recommends pairing the Missouri with the Arizona Memorial in one morning, because together they give the full arc of the Pacific war in about half a day.
What You Will See on Board the Mighty Mo
General admission covers the ship’s decks, exhibits, and a guided tour, plus self-guided exploration afterward. Three self-guided routes organize the visit, and you can follow one or all three.
The Surrender Deck
The surrender deck is the stop most visitors come for. You stand where the surrender documents were signed, beside the plaque that marks the spot.
From this deck you also get a direct view across the harbor to the USS Arizona Memorial. It is one of the most photographed angles at Pearl Harbor, and it makes the bookend story click instantly.
The Main Deck Tour
The main deck route covers the ship’s most famous features. You walk past the massive 16-inch gun turrets, the officers’ areas, and the exhibits that explain the ship’s wartime service.
This is the easiest route for visitors with limited mobility. The main deck and surrender deck are wheelchair accessible via elevators and ramps.
Below Decks: Life at Sea
The below-decks route shows where the crew ate, slept, and spent their free time. It answers the question every visitor asks: what was daily life like for thousands of sailors on one ship?
Expect steep, narrow Navy ladders and tight doorways here. Wear closed-toe shoes, and skip this route if climbing ladders is difficult for you.
Above Decks: Command and Control
The above-decks route covers command and control, including the bridge, the flying bridge, and the captain’s at-sea cabin. It shows how the ship was actually run.
This route also involves ladders and low overheads. Take it slowly, and follow the crew’s directions at every restricted doorway.
Guided Tour or Self-Guided: Which Works Better
General admission includes a 35-minute guided tour, run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with no reservation required. Guides are available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese, subject to daily availability.
The guided tour is the best starting point for first-time visitors. It walks you through the surrender story in order, then leaves you free to explore on your own afterward.
If you prefer your own pace, scan the digital map once aboard and follow the signed routes. Staff are posted around the ship to answer questions and keep you headed the right way.
Best Pearl Harbor Tours tip: Take the guided tour first, then revisit your favorite spots on your own. The tour gives you the story; the second pass gives you the photos and the quiet moments.
Captain’s Tour and Chief Engineer’s Tour
Two paid upgrades go deeper than the standard route, each costing $32 in addition to general admission. The Captain’s Tour (45 minutes) follows the commanding officers’ path through the wardroom, Radio Central, and the captain’s in-port cabin.
The Chief Engineer’s Tour (60 minutes) heads into the engineering spaces, down Broadway — the ship’s longest passage — and into Fire Room #4 and Engine Room #4. Both upgrades are physically strenuous, limited to ages 10 and up, and non-refundable.
Chuck’s Quest for Kids
Chuck’s Quest is an $8 add-on scavenger hunt for children ages 4–12, led by Chuck the Iguana, the ship’s mascot. Kids follow 14 stops around the ship, hunting signal flags and decoding crew messages.
Finishers are sworn in as Honorary Mighty Mo Crewmembers and receive a keepsake from the Battleshop. It is the easiest way to keep younger visitors engaged on a history-heavy ship.
Tickets, Shuttle, and Practical Details
Everything in this section was checked against the official Battleship Missouri Memorial and Pearl Harbor Historic Sites pages before publishing.
Tickets and Prices
General admission to the USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is $44.99 for adults and $19.99 for children ages 4–12. Buy online through the official ticket page, or walk up to the Missouri booth at the Visitor Center on the day.
Unlike the Arizona Memorial boat program, Missouri tickets do not sell out weeks ahead. Walk-up admission is normally available, which makes the Missouri the low-stress anchor of a Pearl Harbor day.
The Passport to Pearl Harbor costs $99.99 for adults and $49.99 for children ages 4–12. It bundles the Missouri, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, plus a Visitor Center audio tour and one virtual reality experience.
The Passport is valid over two consecutive days, with one visit per venue. It does not include USS Arizona Memorial boat reservations, which must still be booked separately through Recreation.gov.
Hours and Closures
The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with last admission at 3:00 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
Arrive at least one hour before closing to see the highlights. A full standard visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours aboard, before shuttle time.
Getting There: The Free Ford Island Shuttle
Ford Island is an active military base, so you cannot drive your own car onto it. Every visitor reaches the Missouri on the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.
Shuttles run every 15 to 20 minutes from 8:00 a.m., with the first stop at the Battleship Missouri Memorial. The last shuttle departs the Missouri at 4:05 p.m., so watch the clock on your way out.
Add at least an hour for shuttle travel across the whole visit. The shuttle loop runs Missouri first, then the Aviation Museum, then back to the Visitor Center.
Bags, Food, and Accessibility
Bags are prohibited at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Cameras, cell phones, and wallets are allowed, and a storage facility near the entrance charges $7 for a standard bag and $10 for oversize luggage.
Pier-side dining is available at Slider’s Grill (10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) and the Wai Momi Shave Ice stand (8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.). Both offer harbor views toward the Arizona Memorial.
The main deck and surrender deck are wheelchair accessible, and complimentary wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Below-decks and above-decks routes are not fully accessible because of ladders and tight passages.
Best Time to Visit
Arrive for the first shuttle at 8:00 a.m. if you can. Early visitors get the shortest shuttle lines and the calmest decks for photos.
Midday brings the biggest crowds and the hottest decks. There is little shade on the main deck, so bring water, sunscreen, and a hat even on cloudy mornings.
Missouri or Arizona: Which One Should You Visit?
Visit both if you possibly can, because they answer different questions. The Arizona Memorial is a solemn, contemplative memorial above a sunken ship; you do not walk its decks.
The Missouri is the hands-on experience. You climb aboard, walk the decks, and stand where the war ended. It suits visitors who learn by doing, and families with older children.
If you truly have time for only one, choose the Arizona Memorial for the emotional heart of Pearl Harbor, and the Missouri for the fullest story. Best Pearl Harbor Tours recommends the Missouri as the second stop, not a replacement for the first.
A Half-Day Missouri and Arizona Itinerary
Start at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center when it opens, and take your timed Arizona Memorial boat program first. The boat program is free but reservation-based, so book it ahead on Recreation.gov.
After the Arizona, catch the Ford Island shuttle to the Missouri. Take the 35-minute guided tour, then explore the main deck and the surrender deck at your own pace.
Finish with lunch at Slider’s Grill on the pier before the last shuttle back. The whole half-day, including shuttles, runs about four to five hours.
Location Map
The Battleship Missouri Memorial is located at 63 Cowpens Street, Ford Island, Honolulu, HI 96818, inside Pearl Harbor.
Open Battleship Missouri Memorial in Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Battleship Missouri Memorial tickets?
Battleship Missouri Memorial general admission is $44.99 for adults and $19.99 for children ages 4–12, and it includes the 35-minute guided tour.
Do you need a reservation for the Battleship Missouri Memorial?
No reservation is required for the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and walk-up tickets are normally available at the Visitor Center on the day.
How do you get to the Battleship Missouri Memorial?
Visitors reach the Battleship Missouri Memorial only on the free shuttle from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, because Ford Island is an active military base.
How long should you spend at the Battleship Missouri Memorial?
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial, plus at least an hour for shuttle travel to and from the Visitor Center.
Is the Battleship Missouri Memorial wheelchair accessible?
The Battleship Missouri Memorial main deck and surrender deck are wheelchair accessible, but below-decks and above-decks routes involve steep ladders.
Does the Passport to Pearl Harbor include the USS Arizona Memorial boat?
No, the Passport to Pearl Harbor does not include USS Arizona Memorial boat reservations, which must be booked separately through Recreation.gov.
Conclusion
The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial is the essential second half of a Pearl Harbor visit. The Arizona Memorial shows where the war began for America, and the Missouri shows where it ended, within sight of each other across the harbor.
Pair this guide with our USS Arizona Memorial visitor guide, our USS Arizona Memorial tickets guide, and our Pearl Harbor tours from Honolulu comparison to plan the full day, plus our Oahu first-timer guide for what to do after Pearl Harbor.
By Best Pearl Harbor Tours — plan the Missouri as your second Pearl Harbor stop, arrive early, and give the surrender deck the quiet moment it deserves.