Docked at Pearl Harbor since 1998, the Battleship Missouri sits just a few hundred yards from the USS Arizona Memorial, bridging the start and end of America’s involvement in World War II. The ship’s deck held the signing of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945, and today visitors can walk the same stretch of teak where that ceremony took place. With nine decks and over 887 feet of hull to explore, it’s easy to miss some of the best parts without a plan. Here are ten things worth seeking out during a visit.
The Surrender Deck
This is where Japanese officials signed the Instrument of Surrender, formally ending World War II. A brass plaque marks the exact spot, and a replica of the surrender table sits nearby, since the original now resides at the Smithsonian. Photographs displayed along the deck show the actual ceremony, making it easy to line up the historical image with the space in front of you.
The 16-Inch Gun Turrets
Three massive turrets, each housing three 16-inch guns, dominate the ship’s silhouette. These guns could fire shells weighing as much as a small car over 20 miles. Standing beneath Turret Two gives a sense of scale that photographs never quite capture, and placards explain how the loading and firing sequence worked for a crew of over 90 men per turret.
The Captain’s and Admiral’s Cabins
Tucked below deck, these quarters show a sharp contrast to the cramped berthing of enlisted sailors. Wood paneling, private bathrooms, and separate sitting areas reflect the rank hierarchy aboard a World War II battleship. The admiral’s cabin was used when the ship served as a flagship, and the restored furnishings give a strong sense of how differently officers lived at sea.
The Kamikaze Strike Site
On April 11, 1945, a Japanese kamikaze pilot crashed into the starboard side of the hull. The dent is still visible today, and a nearby marker tells the story of Captain William Callaghan’s decision to give the pilot a military burial at sea the next morning. It’s a small, sobering detail that many visitors walk right past if they don’t know to look for it.
The Bridge and Navigation Areas
Climbing up to the bridge puts you where officers once steered the ship through combat zones in the Pacific and, later, the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. The wheel, compass, and communication equipment remain intact, giving a hands-on feel for how the crew navigated without the digital systems found on modern naval vessels. The view from here also offers one of the best vantage points over Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial.
The Missouri’s Role in Desert Storm
Many visitors associate the ship solely with World War II, but it was reactivated and modernized in the 1980s, eventually firing Tomahawk cruise missiles during the Gulf War in 1991. Exhibits on board detail this later chapter, including the addition of missile launchers and updated radar systems. It’s a useful reminder that the USS Missouri served across nearly five decades of American naval history before its final decommissioning in 1992.
The Enlisted Crew’s Berthing Quarters
Stacked bunks just inches apart show how more than 2,700 sailors lived aboard during wartime deployments. The tight quarters, shared lockers, and mess areas stand in sharp contrast to the officers’ cabins seen earlier in the tour. Walking through gives a grounded sense of daily life at sea for the majority of the crew.
The Combat Engagement Center
This area houses the radar and weapons control systems used during the ship’s later service, including its role in the Gulf War. Visitors can see where crew members tracked incoming threats and coordinated missile strikes, a sharp departure from the manual gun-targeting methods used decades earlier. The contrast between this space and the older gun turrets highlights just how much naval technology changed over the ship’s lifetime.
The Teak Deck Views of Pearl Harbor
Few spots in Hawaii offer a more layered history lesson than the open deck of the Missouri, with sightlines toward the sunken remains of the Arizona and the harbor where the attack began in 1941. Early morning visits tend to have fewer crowds and better light for photographs. Audio guides available at the entrance point out specific landmarks visible from this vantage point.
The Ship’s Bell and Memorial Displays
Near the quarterdeck, the ship’s original bell is displayed alongside memorial plaques honoring crew members who served aboard. This quieter corner of the ship often gets overlooked, but it offers a direct, tangible connection to the people who lived and worked within these steel walls. Taking a few extra minutes here rounds out the visit with a personal rather than purely historical note.
Set aside at least two to three hours to see these sites without rushing, and consider booking the guided tour that includes access to the engine room and additional lower decks not open to general visitors. The ship rewards a slow pace, since so much of its story is told in small details rather than grand displays.
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