Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Celebrates Armed Forces Birthdays with ‘Free Pass Days’

Free Admission Offered to Active-Duty Military Members, Retirees and Dependents

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (June 8, 2021) – In celebration of the official birthdays of each branch of the U.S. military, Pearl Harbor Historic Sites is offering “free pass days” and other giveaways to the community’s active-duty, retired members and their dependents.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum will all offer free admission to service members of each respective military branch on free pass days starting with June 12. Pacific Historic Parks will offer free self-guided audio tours and the Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Experience. A valid military I.D. must be presented at the Ticket and Information Booth at the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center or onsite at each of the Historic Sites.

About the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

Welcoming more than 1.5 million visitors each year, the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites include four independent memorials and museums — some under the purview of the U.S. National Park Service and others operated by private, nonprofit organizations. Together, in partnership, they carry forth the legacies of several of our nation’s most treasured icons, enduring tributes to the valor and sacrifices of our veterans during a time when the future of our nation and the world truly hung in the balance. The result is a powerful visitor destination and cumulative educational experience that has grown. For more information, visit www.PearlHarborHistoricSites.org.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 9-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 astounding 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.

Safety is our top priority. The Battleship Missouri Memorial is taking additional steps to assure guests will have a safe and healthy experience touring the Mighty Mo. We respectfully ask all visitors to abide by state of Hawaii safety guidelines while on site.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $29.99 per adult and $13.99 per child (4-12). Military, kama‘āina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (808) 455-1600 or visit USSMissouri.org.

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is located on Historic Ford Island, where bombs first fell in the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and is America’s only World War II battlefield. It is from this hallowed place that planes first rose up in defense of Pearl Harbor in the attack that launched America into the war that would define a generation. Our collection of 70+ aircraft in two battle-scarred World War II-era hangars tell the stories of that fateful day, the battles that marked the Pacific Theatre and the rise of American innovation that followed in the decades to come. The bulkhead of the USS Arizona joined our collection in 2020 and the iconic red-and-white-striped Ford Island Control Tower will open in 2021, adding two infamous pieces of American history to our Museum and cementing Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum’s reputation as the “#1 Historical Spot Worth Travelling For” as named by TripAdvisor^®. Guests are invited to take to the skies in our state-of-the-art 360-degree Fighter Ace 360 Flight Simulators and experience aviation like never before. Enjoy Ford Island as the aviators of the Pacific did in our 1940s-themed Laniakea Café. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. General admission is $25.00 per adult and $12.00 per child 4-12. A special guided Legends of Pearl Harbor tour includes an action-packed hour of history, as well as a behind-the-scenes tour of the Shealy Restoration Shop. Military and kama‘aina discounts are available. For more information, call (808) 441-1000 or visit www.PearlHarborAviationMuseum.org.

Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum

Immediately adjacent to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum campus was recently renovated and features the WWII fleet submarine, USS Bowfin, a museum, outdoor artifacts, a lanai (shaded patio), food service, gift shop, restrooms and concessions. The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can learn about the history of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force – the Silent Service during WWII, the Cold War, and Today and into the Future. The museum features a mix of traditional exhibits, multi-media, and interactive displays

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is currently open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $20.00 for adults and $12.00 for children aged 4-12. Military, kama‘aina (local resident) pricing is $15.00 per adult and $7.00 per child (4-12). School group pricing is available. Admission includes an audio tour that is available in seven languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese). For more information, call (808) 423-1341 or visit www.bowfin.org

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

A unit of the National Park Service, Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the neighboring partner sites preserve, interpret, and commemorate the history of World War II in the Pacific from the events leading to the December 7, 1941, attack on O'ahu, to peace and reconciliation. The three ships’ memorials honor and commemorate all members of the U.S. Armed Forces and civilians who gave their lives to their country during the attack on the island of O'ahu and Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The visitor center, two museums, and USS Arizona Memorial program are free for all visitors. The visitor center is closed three days a year: Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. For every other day, including all other holidays, we are open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please note that the first come first served ticket distribution program has been discontinued at this time and standby by seats may not be available. USS Arizona Memorial programs are reservable through www.recreation.gov.

Pacific Historic Parks

A non-profit that is the official cooperating association of the National Park Service, Pacific Historic Parks operates the museum store on the grounds of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. PHP offers the self-guided tour narrated by actress Jamie Lee Curtis. She walks you through 29 stops on the museum grounds and aboard the USS Arizona Memorial. PHP also offers a three-part Virtual Reality Experience. Walk the deck of the USS Arizona on the day it was attacked December 7, 1941; go underwater and see the mammoth guns never fired in battle and the place that USS Arizona survivors have their remains interred to join their fellow shipmates in eternity; and take a private tour of the USS Arizona Memorial at your own pace, including areas off limits to the public. To make reservations for the audio and VR tours, go to pacifichistoricparks.org; email tours@pacifichistoricparks.org; or call 808-954-8759 or toll free (U.S and Canada) at 1-866-332-1941.

(And a reminder: These programs DO NOT include the boat tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial. To book those tickets go to www.recreation.gov

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Media Contact:

Shere’e Quitevis
(808) 741-1668
Sheree.Quitevis@AnthologyGroup.com

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