Battleship Missouri Memorial Earns 2017 Preservation Honor Award

BATTLESHIP MISSOURI MEMORIAL EARNS 2017 PRESERVATION HONOR AWARD
Industry award from Historic Hawai’i Foundation comes during National Preservation Month

– A testament to the continued care of America’s last battleship, the Battleship Missouri Memorial earned the 2017 Preservation Honor Award from the Historic Hawai‘i Foundation for its rehabilitation and expansion of the Crew’s Room exhibit.

Presented at the Foundation’s annual awards ceremony on May 19, the Preservation Honor Award is the state's highest distinction for organizations committed to preserving Hawai‘i’s architectural, archaeological and cultural heritage. Berthed in Pearl Harbor, the Battleship Missouri Memorial provides historical tours of the retired USS Missouri – the famed Mighty Mo – that served in three wars over a five-decade period.

“We are humbled and honored to receive this esteemed preservation award and what it says about our dedication to take care of the historic USS Missouri. The Crew’s Room rehabilitation project, along with other restoration efforts on the Mighty Mo, will continue to tell her story for generations to come,” said Michael Carr, President and CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, caretaker of the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

Enrichments to the Mighty Mo’s Crew’s Room exhibit have been 12 years in the making. Staff members and archivists, as well as civilian and military volunteers from around the nation, have enlivened the Crew’s Room’s existing architecture by adding gallery-style multimedia curated from the ship’s days on active duty. Displays of highly treasured keepsakes, such as uniforms, handwritten letters, and handcrafted jewelry donated by sailors who served aboard the USS Missouri punctuate the Crew’s Room’s exhibit with an authentic depiction of life aboard the ship.

This award honoring the Battleship Missouri Memorial’s preservation efforts comes during National Historic Preservation Month. The Battleship Missouri Memorial is currently coordinating a social media fundraising campaign in conjunction with Preservation Month to continue its on-going restoration initiatives. Donations to preserve this historical and heritage site are welcomed at ussmissouri.org or on Facebook.com/Battleshipmissouri. On-going preservation efforts for the majestic Mighty Mo include restoration of its teakwood deck and steel superstructure.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 7-million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri’s unique place in history. Located a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and ends with Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

The USS Missouri had an impressive career over five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation with the support of visitors, memberships, grants, and donations.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission, which includes choice of an optional tour, is $27 per adult and $13 per child (4-12). Military, kama‘aina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (toll-free) 1-877-644-4896 or visit USSMissouri.org.

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Media Contact:
Megan Hesselink
(808) 539-3430
Megan.Hesselink@AnthologyGroup.com

Jaclyn Hawse
(808) 455-1600 ext. 246
JaclynH@ussmissouri.org