USS Missouri:
Great combination with the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument
As part of our time in Pearl Harbor, we toured the USS Missouri following our visit to the USS Arizona Memorial and the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. This is a great pairing as it ties together the start and end of the Second World War and also follows the career of the USS Missouri and her crew through subsequent conflicts in Korea and the Middle East.
After our tour to the USS Arizona Memorial, we purchased tickets to the USS Missouri and caught the shuttle bus to Ford Island. Once at the Missouri, there is a short orientation that describes the tour options (self-guided with or without an audio tour or a guided tour). We took the self guided tour took the audio tour device, but never used it. The map of the ship, the placards and the volunteers scattered along the walking tour route were sufficient. I reckon if you really wanted to get into the details, the audio tour would be the way to go.
The volunteers who work on the Mighty Mo are obviously very dedicated and want to keep the old girl in great shape. There was a lot of working going on around the ship. When we were there, large portions of the teak decking was being replaced.
The tour was educational from several aspects, from historical (getting to walk over the surrender deck where Japan signed their unconditional surrender to end WWII) to logistical (seeing the learning how the Sailors and Marines on these fighting ships lived and worked). We walked everywhere we were allowed to go on the ship. The only real disappointment was not getting to see the engines and more of the below deck operations.
I guess we spent about an hour walking through the ship, so a little over an hour total including the drive time to and from Ford Island. While not the emotional impact of the USS Arizona, the Missouri does provide an interesting contrast and makes for a very complimentary tour.
After our tour to the USS Arizona Memorial, we purchased tickets to the USS Missouri and caught the shuttle bus to Ford Island. Once at the Missouri, there is a short orientation that describes the tour options (self-guided with or without an audio tour or a guided tour). We took the self guided tour took the audio tour device, but never used it. The map of the ship, the placards and the volunteers scattered along the walking tour route were sufficient. I reckon if you really wanted to get into the details, the audio tour would be the way to go.
The volunteers who work on the Mighty Mo are obviously very dedicated and want to keep the old girl in great shape. There was a lot of working going on around the ship. When we were there, large portions of the teak decking was being replaced.
The tour was educational from several aspects, from historical (getting to walk over the surrender deck where Japan signed their unconditional surrender to end WWII) to logistical (seeing the learning how the Sailors and Marines on these fighting ships lived and worked). We walked everywhere we were allowed to go on the ship. The only real disappointment was not getting to see the engines and more of the below deck operations.
I guess we spent about an hour walking through the ship, so a little over an hour total including the drive time to and from Ford Island. While not the emotional impact of the USS Arizona, the Missouri does provide an interesting contrast and makes for a very complimentary tour.