USS Oklahoma Memorial

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What's this attraction about?

A memorial dedicated to the 429 brave men who lost their lives aboard the USS Oklahoma, which was sunk during the Pearl Harbor attacks on December 7, 1941. Survivors who escaped from the sinking battleship were grateful to feel solid land beneath them on shore.

The USS Oklahoma Memorial features black granite walls to symbolize the Oklahoma’s hulls, and white marble pillars represent individuals standing at attention. The USS Oklahoma Memorial was dedicated 7 December 2007, on Ford Island, just northeast of the Pacific Aviation Museum.(Above photo: wfryer on Flickr)

History

The battleship Oklahoma was first built in 1912, and was launched two years later, before eventually being decommissioned in 1944, after attempts to salvage it for scraps. USS Oklahoma arrived in 1940 to Pearl Harbor nearly a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor took place. In 12 minutes the Oklahoma had rolled over until her masts touched the bottom of Pearl Harbor. After being sunk in the attacks on Pearl Harbor, Oklahoma was salvaged but, unlike other battleships at the time, was never repaired or returned to service. During shipment of Oklahoma scraps from Hawaii to the mainland, the cargo ship sunk.

Learn More: Details & Trivia

How Long We're Here: Allow 15 – 20 minutes, keeping in mind the only time to visit the USS Oklahoma Memorial is after the tour of the USS Missouri Battleship.
Location: Pearl Harbor, Oahu
Amenities: Restrooms, exhibit signage. Food stand directly outside of the Missouri entrance.
Insider Tip: Remember to be respectful as you visit memorials on Pearl Harbor.
Fun Fact: At this time, there are fewer than 10 remaining Oklahoma survivors.
What To Expect: A walk through of the memorials, standing directly outside of the USS Missouri entrance.