USS Missouri, Witness the Deck Where World War II Ended

USS Missouri BB 63 Memorial, Cowpens Street, Honolulu, HI, USA

The battleship of the United States

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Introduction

The USS Missouri battleship, which accepted Japan's unconditional surrender on September 2, 1945, at Pearl Harbor, ended World War II. Today, this milestone battleship serves as a living museum, quietly docked in Pearl Harbor, showcasing its three wars and fifty years of service to visitors. The 60,000-ton battleship is the length of three football fields and 20 stories tall. Visitors can see the document that ended the war on the surrender deck and explore special restricted areas. When standing next to the towering 16-inch caliber guns, visitors will be amazed at their power, as they can launch 2,700-pound shells to a distance of 23 miles (approximately 37 kilometers). The USS Missouri is placed next to the Arizona Memorial, which has also been controversial. Some employees have criticized the towering battleship for "overshadowing" the Arizona Memorial. To balance the sensory effect of both memorials, the final plan was to position the Missouri battleship with the bow facing the Arizona and to place the remains of both battleships in parallel lines facing the direction of Ford Island, expressing the Missouri's "protection" of the Arizona's remains and "respect" for the fallen soldiers of the Arizona. This plan ultimately balances the sensory effect of both memorials and maintains their equal status at Pearl Harbor.