Temporary Exhibits & Displays
Life After Infamy: The Resilience of the Aloha Spirit in Wartime Hawaii
Location: Second Deck, Forward
The experiences of service members involved in the December 7 Attack on Pearl Harbor are well documented. However, lesser known is how life changed abruptly and drastically for those who called Hawai'i home. This exhibit invites you to step back in history and see through the eyes of the kama'aina (Hawaii residents) during WWII. Discover the profound impact the war had on the daily lives of locals and gain a deeper understanding of their resilience and adaptability during this tumultuous period.
Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC)
Location: Aft Ship Store, Second Deck (Spot 7 on Tour Map)
Get a sneak preview of the action during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest multinational maritime warfare exercise. Held biennially since 1971, RIMPAC fosters critical cooperative relationships to ensure the safety of sea lanes and support a free and open Indo-Pacific region. This exhibit showcases the USS Missouri's pivotal participation in the 1988 and 1990 exercises, illustrating its role in enhancing interoperability and strategic maritime partnerships. Experience the Mighty Mo's participation through historical artifacts and archives, celebrating the legacy of naval excellence and international camaraderie.
Permanent Exhibits & Displays
Divine Wind: Kamikaze and the Battle for the Pacific
On 11 April 1945, USS Missouri was struck by a kamikaze plane on the starboard aft quarter. The following day, on the order of Missouri’s commanding officer, Captain William M. Callaghan, the pilot was given a military burial. Just a few steps from where the kamikaze aircraft struck the battleship and one deck down from where the kamikaze pilot was given his military burial, Divine Wind: Kamikaze and the Battle for the Pacific showcases one-of-a-kind trench art from Missouri crewmembers and kamikaze artifacts rarely seen outside of Japan. Among the artifacts on display are farewell letters and poems from pilots to family members and loved ones, personal photographs and information, historical images and uniform items. The exhibit is presented in partnership with the Chiran Peace Museum, located in Minamikyushu, Kagoshima, Japan.
Crew's Room Exhibit [temporarily closed]
Walk through history as experienced through the eyes of her crew. The Crew’s Room focuses on the generations of men who have served aboard the battleship from the 1940s through the 1980s. The exhibit features personal effects, whether its cat eye stones collected from Tokyo Bay in WWII or a 1980s jacket embroidered with all the places the battleship visited.
The Chief Petty Officers (CPO) Legacy Center
This exhibit is situated in the heart of CPO Mess and pays tribute to the role and legacy of Chiefs in the history of the US Navy. Explore where Navy Chiefs ate, slept, and relaxed and learn what it takes to be a Chief in the Navy. Artifacts on display include uniforms, weapons, and a medal of honor.
World War II Exhibit
Visitors can enter our WWII exhibit by the post office and be transported into a 1940s living room. The artifacts in our WWII exhibit are windows into the major events and theatres of the war, from the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 to the surrender aboard USS Missouri in September of 1945.
Wardroom Displays
Our wardroom, located on the main deck and a central hub of the museum’s tour path, is currently host to multiple displays including newly arrived fragments of USS Arizona. Visitors here can also view small displays on USS Missouri’s original silver service as well as learn about all the ships named after the Show Me state, including submarine USS Missouri (SSN 780) that was commissioned in 2010.
