Pearl Harbor's Battleship Missouri Memorial Announces New World War II Exhibit to Open on 80th Anniversary of Japanese Surrender
The historic World War II battleship teams up with exhibit design firm Ideum to bring new interactive and immersive museum experience to Hawaii in 2025
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (September 5, 2024) — Opening September 2, 2025, on the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the USS Missouri Memorial Association and New Mexico design firm, Ideum, will unveil a brand new exhibition, Pathway To Peace: USS Missouri’s World War II Experience. The new exhibit will explore the historic ship’s involvement in World War II and the experiences of her Sailors onboard. Pearl Harbor visitors will take an interactive journey through the pivotal events surrounding the USS Missouri's wartime service and her emergence as an international symbol of peace at the end of WWII.
To honor the Sailors who served aboard the Mighty Mo, Pathway to Peace: USS Missouri's World War II Experience will spotlight crew stories through personal artifacts and belongings. Guests will get a chance to hear directly from WWII Sailors through interactive media and complimentary historic objects will help bring their experiences to life for visitors. The exhibition will also highlight the formal Japanese Surrender Ceremony that took place aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, ending human history's bloodiest conflict, from the unique perspective of the shipmates who facilitated the momentous historical event.
“Pathway to Peace: USS Missouri’s World War II Experience will offer visitors an unprecedented look into the lives of the Sailors who served during one of the most pivotal moments in history. By sharing their personal stories and artifacts, we’re not just preserving history—we’re honoring the bravery and sacrifice of those who were on the front lines of peace. This exhibition will allow our visitors to connect with the past in a deeply meaningful way, standing on the very decks where World War II came to an end,” said Michael Carr, President and CEO of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
A short immersive film with archival footage from the USS Missouri’s action in the Pacific Theater will introduce the exhibition to visitors. The installation will also feature interviews with World War II Veterans who served onboard the storied ship during this time including one of the last living crew members, Edgar “Ed” Buffman who served on the Missouri from 1944 to 1946 as a Gunner’s Mate 2nd class.
Exhibit cases will display items from Battleship Missouri Memorial’s historic artifact collection, some that have never been publicly displayed, including objects donated by the ship’s crew and their families. Notable artifacts on display will be Surrender Cards that were issued exclusively to those in attendance onboard during the September 2nd Surrender Ceremony in 1945, a Japanese Arisaka rifle that was captured by a USS Missouri landing party, and the sword of the ship’s first commanding officer, CAPT William M. Callaghan - who was later promoted to Admiral.
With tight quarters and irregularly shaped interior spaces, the teams had to be innovative and creative with how to best utilize and maximize the limited space offered when designing and developing Pathway To Peace. Similar to the other Iowa-class battleships, the Missouri has been modified and spaces were changed during each modernization following WWII, the Korean War, and the Gulf War in the 1990’s.
“Our plan has been to use the ship as part of our design approach from the start. We have customized exhibit elements and designed casework to seamlessly fit the hull and better use all available space onboard,” says Jim Spadaccini Founder & Creative Director of Ideum. “For example, we’re utilizing the ship's contours to access a large enough area so we can create an immersive theater space for the Pathway to Peace exhibition.”
During the lead up to the 80th Anniversary and exhibit grand opening next year, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, in collaboration with Ideum, will share historic images and film footage from the ship’s journey from 1944-1945 and exhibit development progress on social media channels. Pathway to Peace: USS Missouri's World War II Experience will open to the public on September 2, 2025 in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II.
To view the renderings of the exhibit, please visit the digital image gallery here.
To stay up-to-date on the journey to 80, please follow @battleshipmissouri and @ideum on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. For more information on the new exhibit, please visit: ussmissouri.org/pathwaytopeace.
Battleship Missouri: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Ideum: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
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About Battleship Missouri Memorial
Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 10-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.
The Battleship Missouri Memorial is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Military, kama‘āina (local resident) and school group pricing is available. For information or reservations, call (808) 455-1600 or visit USSMissouri.org
About Ideum
Ideum is a 25-year-old experience design firm based in Corrales, New Mexico. The firm has worked with museums and corporations across the globe developing cutting-edge interactive exhibits. Ideum develops multitouch hardware, designs and fabricates custom exhibits, and develops interactive software.
PRESS CONTACTS:
Battleship Missouri Memorial
Jaclyn Hawse
Ideum
Megan van Meer