Mission Houses Museum

Perhaps one of the most important historic sites of Hawaii missionaries of the 19th century, the Mission Houses Museum documents and collects artifacts of the Islands’ “missionary” period from about 1820 to 1863. Downtown Honolulu’s mission houses were transported via ship from Boston around the southern tip of South America, then trekked through the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Nearby are landmarks such as Kawaiahao Church, Ali'iolani Hale, King Kamehameha the Great Statue, and Iolani Palace.

History

Hawaii’s oldest wooden frame buildings, built by Boston missionaries in the early 1820s. These structures were home to the island’s first printing press. The Mission Houses Museum was introduced in 1920 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Christian missionaries. The site became a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and was soon inducted to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

• How Long We're Here: Drive-by attraction only.
• Location: Historic Honolulu District, Oahu.
• Insider Tip: Note that these houses were designed for New England climates, not Hawaiian weather!
• Fun Fact: Some of the first Hawaiian language printed materials were made here!
• What To Expect: Centuries-old missionary houses, New England style architecture, Kawaiahao Church, and the Print House