With over 1.6 million visitors annually the Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center is in desperate need of repairs. The 29 year old visitor center is showing signs of the times and is slowly deteriorating. What originally began as an $8 million renovation in 2000 has increased to a $58 million construction program.

Recently there have been a lot of new and exciting things going on at Pearl Harbor including the USS Missouri Battleship being released from dry dock. The Mighty Mo is looking better than ever and is now open to the public. Beginning Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Pearl Harbor operations will begin in the new visitor center. The newly designed visitor center will preserve the panoramic views of Pearl Harbor and the Memorial while maximizing the use of the available space. However there are many more exciting improvements to the center which are scheduled for completion in December, 2010.

New renovations soon to be complete:

There will be three new museums designed to educate visitors about pre-war life in Hawaii and around the world. The focus of the new museums will feature 3 phases, “Road to War”, “Oahu 1941”, and “Attack and Aftermath.” There will be new gallery stets depicting competing Japanese and American world views, and differing political and cultural perspectives through graphics, audiovisual displays, and other interactive exhibits.

“Oahu 1941” will allow guests to see how civilian life in Hawaii before the war was through contemporary street scene graphics and historical photos, artifacts, and oral histories. Guest will also learn about the many harbors of Pu’uloa and its sacred meaning for the Hawaiian people. Other exhibits focus on the later arrival of service men and women away from home for the first time. Another display is about the emerging strategic importance of the most isolated group of islands in the world.

“Attack and Aftermath” This new and exciting exhibit will incorporate real salvage materials, artifacts, and photographs which allow visitors to experience Hawaii during the aftermath of the attack including military checkpoints. The centerpiece will be a scale model Japanese aircraft hanging directly over the entrance to the gallery.

A new education wing will provide a resource area that will be open to the public. Access to digitized documents, photos and oral histories will all be available. The new Education and Research Center will offer a resource area, a classroom, and a much needed video teleconference room.

Another much needed renovation will be the theaters. The movie is one of the most critical interpretive parts of any visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. During the renovation stages the movie theater will undergo extensive renovations including new carpet, seats, and audio video equipment to better serve visitors.

The famous USS Arizona anchor will also have a new location. Originally the gigantic anchor was positioned at the entrance to the visitor center. After the renovations the anchor’s new home will be on the lawn area next to the water’s edge.

Join us on one of many great tours to Pearl Harbor. We have many exciting day tours to Pearl Harbor that are sure to meet the needs of any visitor.

See it all on our Day at Pearl Harbor Tour!

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Admission to the USS Missouri Battleship

• Pacific Aviation Museum
• USS Bowfin Submarine Tour
• Historic Honolulu City Driving Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:15am; returns approx 4:15pm)

Spend a half day on our WWII From Beginning to End Tour

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Admission to the USS Missouri Battleship

• USS Oklahoma Memorial
• Historic Honolulu City Driving Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:00am & 8:40am; returns approx 1:30pm & 3:35pm)

Check out Pearl Harbor and still have time for shopping at a Flea Market

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Aloha Stadium Flea Market
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:25am & returns approx 11:30am)

Enjoy a morning at Pearl Harbor and still have time for more!

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Historic Honolulu city Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:00am & 8:40am; returns approx 10:45am & 1:00pm)

Read more: Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center gets New Look