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Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Description

Upon entering the visitor center at the USS Arizona Memorial, kids will head straight for the giant anchor -- weighing in at almost 20,000 pounds -- that was once mounted on the great ship. The museum is interesting for both adults and kids, who especially appreciate the ship models, uniforms, photographs, and other memorabilia on display. Tours of the memorial start with a captivating and informative 20-minute film (you'll be assigned a time as you enter the facility), followed by a Navy ferry ride across Pearl Harbor to the final resting place of the USS Arizona.

Kid Tips

Babies: Maneuvering a stroller through the crowds is very difficult. Leave it behind and save yourself the headache.

School-Age Kids: The film shown prior to the tour of the USS Arizona Memorial may be a bit intense for some kids in this age group, but they're sure to love the ferry ride.

Pre-Teens & Teens: History and military buffs will find the museum to be filled with interesting facts and displays, including a spent Japanese torpedo and models of some of the ships that were in port on December 7, 1941.

Planning Notes

Arrive early. Lines begin forming well before 7 a.m. as early risers attempt to avoid the crowds. Tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Have a plan. This facility is well organized but extremely crowded. Be sure to have a plan in case your family becomes separated. If your children are young, or not that interested in this stop, it might be best to skip this attraction until theyâre a bit older.

Go bagless. Bags are not allowed anywhere on the USS Arizona Memorial. If you plan to take pictures, use a neck strap for your camera.

Eat first. There are restrictions on where you can eat within the facility and those areas are often crowded. Better to fill up before you get there.

Take a potty break. There are no bathrooms here, so make sure to take children to the restroom before your scheduled show time.

History buffs can see more. If you canât get enough military history, consider walking across the parking lot to the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, where a waterfront memorial honors the 52 U.S. submarines and more than 3,500 submariners who lost their lives during World War II. There is a fee to tour the USS Bowfin submarine and the USS Missouri docked nearby, but the memorial is free.

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