Living History Day Aboard the Mighty Mo!
Living History Day celebrates two key dates for the Battleship Missouri Memorial. The first is, January 29, 1944, when the USS Missouri launched into military service for the first time, the ship was christened at launch by Margaret Truman, President Truman’s only daughter. The second key date is January 29, 1999, when the Battleship Missouri Memorial officially opened to the public as a historic memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Today, the memorial welcomes half a million visitors each year to walk the historic decks of the USS Missouri and learn about her story and how it shaped history.
To celebrate Living History Day, the memorial welcomed 2,000 local guests and visitors of all ages to engage with history through a series of immersive exhibits, hands-on activities, and interactive demonstrations that honored the legacy of the USS Missouri and the brave individuals who have served. Here are a few highlights from the day-
Exhibits and Activities:
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team – Guests interacted with the EOD team’s mobile robot along the pier to witness exciting demonstrations showcasing modern military technology in action.
- “Crossing the Line” kids activity – Young visitors had a blast participating in this family-friendly version of the Navy tradition where they were summoned by Davy Jones to stand before King Neptune’s royal court.
- Historical Reenactments – Guests were transported back in time with live reenactments that brought key moments from the Civil War to life. Additionally, visitors experienced what life was like during that era, including sampling hardtack—arguably the first cracker.
- LEGO Building Station – The Hawaii Lego Users Group displayed incredible builds of Hawaiian landmarks and historic buildings on the Oahu. They also had a giant building station for kids and families to put their skills to the test with their own lego builds.
- Tic-Tac-Toe with Navy Divers – The Mobile Diving Salvage Unit brought some water fun to the event, guests went head-to-head in a lively game of tic-tac-toe with the Navy divers, providing both fun and education about their important role.
- Captain’s Cabin Tours – Attendees got a rare glimpse inside the Captain’s In-Port Cabin, learning about life aboard the historic battleship and the Captains who regularly occupied the space.
- Fire Truck Tours – The Federal Fire Station Crew welcomed guests to explore their fire truck up close and demonstrated firefighting techniques while fully suited in their gear.
- Helicopter Marshaling Demonstrations – The Missouri’s Education Team showcased standard marshaling gestures used to safely guide helicopters during landings and takeoffs.
- Live Musical Performances – Throughout the day, visitors were treated to a variety of musical performances by Pearl City Elementary Choir, Wahiawa Middle School Jazz Band, and the Pacfleet Woodwind Quintet.
- From the incredible exhibitors to the family fun activities, Living History Day was a celebration of honor, remembrance, and history. We are grateful to all of this year’s participants, volunteers, and guests who made the event such a success.
For more information on upcoming events and the ship’s history, please visit our website at ussmissouri.org.