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The LST 325 Ship

Enhance your stay in the La Crosse Region by exploring the once-in-a-lifetime arrival of the only WWII Landing Ship Tank, LST 325. The historic military ship will dock in Riverside Park and tour tickets will be available to purchase August 31st- September 4th.

Riverside Park, La Crosse, WI | August 31st – Sept 4th, 2023

The only wwii operational landing ship tank, the lst 325 will dock in riverside park and tickets will be for sale on site from 9-5 pm. ticket purchases with cash or credit card | adults: $15, children 6-17 yrs: $7.

During its time in La Crosse, visitors will have the opportunity to board the 328-foot-long ship and step back in time for a tour. The self-guided tours explore the ship’s interior, uncover its historical significance, and offer a deeper understanding of what day-to-day life looked like for those who bravely served and lived aboard the vessel.

TRACK THE LST-325 NOW!

Historically, these LST ships could carry twenty Sherman tanks in the giant hold within the ship. They were the only ships ever made that could go anywhere in the world and deposit their cargo onto a hostile beach and then return with another load. On the main deck they could also carry 30-40 trucks, tons of fuels, ammunition, supplies and soldiers.

The LSTs were used during World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam conflicts. This ship, LST 325, was in the invasion at Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was also at Sicily on July 10, 1943.

This LST 325 was one of the first to be built and it is the only operational LST in the United States. It was built in Philadelphia, PA by the U.S. Navy Shipyard. Hundreds of these ships sailed on the rivers on their way to the Gulf of Mexico and to WWII. The shipyards were able to complete a ship every five days. Workers, welders, and equipment installers then boarded these vessels and completed the ship while it was in route down the Mississippi River. 1,051 LSTs were built in a little over three years. The United States never lost an invasion once the LSTs were designed and produced with the ability to land tanks, supplies and soldiers on the beach. 

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A World War II warship will dock in three US cities and you can explore it. Here's how and where

A one-of-a-kind World War II-era ship that helped turn the tide for the Allies will be moored and open for tours in three U.S. cities starting at the end of August. 

The chance to board the USS LST 325 , the last fully functional Landing Ship Tank remaining in the country, will appeal to history junkies and maritime buffs everywhere. 

The ship is docked and open for tours in Evansville, Indiana eleven months out of the year, but will take its annual voyage to three port cities. 

This year, the USS LST 325 will visit La Crosse, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Iowa; and Hannibal, Missouri over the course of a month. 

The ship has sailed on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and has docked in places such as Nashville, Tennessee; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Here's everything you need to know if you plan on visiting the LST 325 in a couple of weeks. 

Here’s when the LST 325 will be moored in your city 

• August 31 to September 4: La Crosse, Wisconsin.
• September 7-12: Dubuque, Iowa.
• September 15-18: Hannibal, Missouri.

Visitors will be able to tour the ship between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The cost is $15 for adults, $7 for child ages 6 to 17 and free for children 5 and younger. 

Your admission includes a self-guided walking tour of the vessel, but guided tours are also available upon request. 

Skywatchers rejoice: This August, you'll see a rare blue moon − plus another supermoon

What will the tours entail?

The LST's mission was once to deliver tanks, vehicles, supplies, cargo and troops directly onto enemy beaches. Now it is used to teach people about the roles of LSTs in World War II and in the Korean and Vietnam wars, highlighting the sailors who manned it in those conflicts.

The annual cruises aim to introduce LST 325 to a larger geographic area to raise awareness and donations needed to preserve and maintain the ship.

The self-guided tours, which take visitors along a designated route including six flights of stairs and last about 45 minutes, give people an opportunity to explore a vessel that participated in the D-Day invasion. The ship is outfitted to match what it looked like during its World War II service. Visitors will be able to explore areas such as the main deck, troop berthing area, the tank deck, the mess, galley, wheelhouse, the officers' areas and the captain's cabin.

What makes the LST so special?

LSTs were built during World War II to help Allied forces invade areas held by the enemy. LSTs had specially designed hulls and flat bottoms that allowed them to run their bow directly onto beaches and unload their cargo, according to the United States LST Association . They could land on just about any type of shore that had a gradually sloped beach.

At the time, the ship was the largest of the vessels used by by the newly created Amphibious Forces.

Was it dangerous to serve on an LST?

Yes. Several crew members of LST 325 were wounded by air attacks during World War II, according to the LST Ship Memorial website .

LST's were lightly armed, typically with seven 40 mm and 12 20 mm antiaircraft guns. The LST 325 has guns as it did in World War II; 40 mm rounds were fired when the ship was moved in 2020 from a marina to its current, more-visible downtown location, according to the Evansville Courier & Press .

The ships were powered by two diesel engines and plowed through the water with a maximum speed of 11.5 knots, or just over 13 mph. Sailors nicknamed the ships "Large Slow Target," according to the LST Association.

What did LST 325 and its crew do during World War II?

After its February 1943 shakedown cruise around Norfolk, Virginia, the ship and her crew sailed to New York City and then left for Oran, Algeria, according to the LST Ship Memorial website.

Among some of its duties throughout the war, the ship supported Allied military forces in Tunisia in North Africa and Sicily and Salerno in Italy. It was involved in training exercises in preparation for D-Day, and unloaded men and vehicles onto smaller craft while anchored off Omaha Beach during the Allied invasion of France.

After that, it supplied Allied forces battling the German Army in France, and on Dec. 28, 1944, helped rescue about 700 men from a troop transport that was torpedoed off the coast of France.

A look back at D-Day: Why the World War II invasion remains important on its 79th anniversary

Why is LST 325 permanently moored in Evansville, Indiana?

LST 325 served the Greek Navy from 1964 until December of 1999, when it was decommissioned. It then was purchased by the LST Ship Memorial, a nonprofit group that aims to preserve the ship and use it for educational purposes. The ship ended up in its home port of Evansville because the city has a historic link to LSTs, said Cory Burdette, museum operations coordinator, in an email interview.

He said shipbuilders across the United States made 1,051 LSTs during World War II, but the Evansville builder, Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Co., made the most, 167.

"We're kind of like the 'LST capital,' so to speak," Burdette said.

Also, he added, being on the Ohio River allows the ship to cruise within days to major cities in the middle of the U.S., including Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis.

Keith Uhlig is a regional features reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin based in Wausau. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him at @UhligK on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook .

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Welcome Aboard The

Battleship North Carolina

Plot Your Own Course!

The Battleship North Carolina

Battleship NORTH CAROLINA participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II, earning 15 battle stars. This authentically restored National Historic Landmark proudly serves as her State’s World War II Memorial to the 11,000+ North Carolinians who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Moored across from historic downtown Wilmington, the Battleship welcomes visitors daily. Plot your own course as you explore nine levels, climb inside gun turrets, marvel at early computers, and see where the crew ate, slept, and worked. Crew stories throughout the Ship introduce you to the 2,000 young men who called the Showboat home.

Encircling the Ship, the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Walkway provides an opportunity to appreciate her majesty and power. Enjoy a picnic in Battleship Park or savor a meal in Wilmington. And take a piece of her home from the Battleship Steel Collection!

How will YOU plot your own course? Please share your pics and stories with us!

Plan Your Visit

Visitors can expect to spend at least 2 hours touring, but many stay longer. It’s up to you and how much you would like to discover! The Ship is yours for the day!

Programs & Events

The Battleship offers several fun and interactive programs throughout the year. Most of the programs are free with regular Battleship admission. 

The NORTH CAROLINA was the first battleship to be constructed in sixteen years. She became the first of ten  fast battleships  to join the fleet in WWII.

USS  North Carolina  Battleship Memorial receives no regular government funding. Visitors help keep the gangway open, and donors ensure our long-term success.

Visitor Testimonials

Great for all ages.

We were unsure how long we would spend with two small kids (ages 4 & 7) and ended up spending over 2 hours on this huge battleship! The experience really makes you appreciate the men and women who defend our nation as you can tour many levels of the ship. You get a chance to see how the sailors lived their daily lives as you see many different sections, including above and below the main deck.

Wonderful Staff!

This is a unique opportunity to get to tour this class of Battleship. The staff here is very friendly and does a great job of maintaining this ship and opening it up as much as possible for tours. It was really a treat to get to see the very tight working spaces inside the 16-inch gun turrets.

Amazing Tour!

I served 4 years in the Navy on an aircraft carrier. What could I learn on a tour of the North Carolina? A lot! Our tour guide took our group of four from the bridge to the bilge and from the bow to the fantail. He tailored the tour to our liking, stopped when anyone needed a break, and always made sure we saw everything we wanted to see.

An Incredible Ship!

An incredible ship, with an equally incredible history. We toured the vessel on our own, taking time to read crew memories and explore in our own time over a 2hr period. Surprised how much is accessible! Loved exploring below deck. We had a great experience learning more about BSNC and her crew. Nice souvenirs to take home in the gift shop, too.

Loved Every Minute!

What an amazing battleship museum! My husband was in the Navy, and he absolutely loved every minute of our visit. It was awesome to have our own personal guide to show us the various items and locations throughout the ship. The admission price was very reasonable (be sure to mention if you are a veteran for a discount) and the history of the Battleship was amazing. If you’re in the area, this is a must stop!

Keep the History Alive!

Spectacular! I was there in 1968 with my Father. I was excited to go back with my other half. He enjoyed the history as well. These are things that we need to keep alive and not slip away.

As featured in…

Get in touch

812-435-8678

[email protected]

VISITOR INFORMATION

Welcome new visitors.

The LST-325 calls Evansville, Indiana home and is open for tours with seasonal hours throughout the year.

Every year in late summer she sails to visit various other ports. In 2023, her volunteer crew took her to LaCrosse, WI, Dubuque, IA and Hannibal, MO.

See the EVENTS CALENDAR page for updates on Cruise as details become available.

We are a FULLY OPERATIONAL ship and ALL tours while in Evansville are guided. This is for your safety and there will be no exceptions made.

Standard guided tours include the Main Deck, Troop Berthing, Tank Deck, Mess Deck, Galley, Stern of ship (Guns and Anchor), Wheel House, Officer's Country, and the Captain's Cabin. This tour includes up to 6 sets of stairs.

If your party would like to avoid steps we offer a shorter Main Deck Tour (subject to guide availability) that consists of the History, Guns, the Stern of the ship (Guns and Anchor), and Officer's Country and Galley if possible (must be able to step over hatches). We also try to make every tour special. Please call ahead for all Main Deck tours. 

You are allowed to ask questions and take pictures at any point during the tour. We recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes. Heels of any type, flip flops, sandals and bare feet are not advised.

During the summer we recommend carrying water during the tour (available in the Gift Shop) due to the increased temperatures onboard ship. Service animals are allowed on ship, but please be mindful of the weather, especially during the summer months. Our decks can reach to temperatures of well over 100 degrees.  During the winter, be sure to bundle up for the weather, because there will be parts of the tour that will be outside.

WHERE TO FIND US

The USS LST 325 is located on Riverside Drive in downtown Evansville, Indiana, immediately across the road from the Bally's Evansville (formerly Tropicana). She can be found here 11 months out of the year. During the fall, the ship sails to other port cities to share a piece of our nation's history and to educate the public about LSTs and the men who served on them. There are also hotels and restaurants close by. Check out "Where to Eat?" and "Where to Stay?" at the top of the page for more info!

LST PARKING MAP

PARK ACROSS THE STREET IN THE BALLEYS PARKING GARAGE OR AROUND THE LEGENDS TOWER HOTEL. YOU CAN USE THE COVERED CROSSWALK FROM THE HOTEL TO THE LST MEMORIAL TO SAFELY CROSS THE STREET.

Operating Hours 

Mon: Closed

Tues - Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CST

COAST GUARD RESTRICTED ITEMS

Please note that as an operational vessel, we are required to follow Coast Guard regulations on banned materials and items. These restrictions will be enforced for all tours and visits.

YOUR SAFTEY IS OUR PRIORTY

Hand weapons.

Firearms and Ammunition

Explosive Devices or Grenades

Blasting Caps

Dynamite, Flares, Fireworks

INCENDIARIES

Flammable Liquids

Lighters or Gas Torches

DISABLING CHEMICALS

Located At:

610 NW Riverside Drive

Evansville, IN 47708

Call Us At:

All Rights Reserved | USS LST Ship Memorial INC. | Privacy Policy | Delivery Policy | Return Policy | Terms & Conditions

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History Comes Alive in Muskegon!

Walk where heroes walked, open for tours, special events on board lst 393, welcome aboard uss lst 393.

Walk where heroes walked, right in downtown Muskegon! History jumps out at you from every deck and every corner. Discover LST 393's outstanding wartime record as you tour a nationally renowned veterans museum with artifacts and displays honoring those who served America and fought for the freedoms we enjoy today.

THE MUSEUM WILL OPEN FOR THE 2024 SEASON APRIL 27.

Get LST 393 gear online!

You can now order your USS LST 393 apparel online. Just click on the link and you can choose from a number of shirts, jackets and even an LST 393 hat. Your items can be shipped to you for a small fee or you can pick them up in downtown Muskegon.

Lucy Sorenson Pape Remembered

She was always the unofficial “first shipmate” of USS LST 393.

Lucy Sorenson Pape wielded the champagne bottle that launched the ship in 1942 in a ceremony at her father’s shipyard. She was so proud she kept the beribboned broken bottle neck almost all her life, only relinquishing it in 2017 when she knew it would be safe in her ship’s latest incarnation, LST 393 Veterans Museum in Muskegon, Mich.

Mrs. Pape passed away from Covid-19 on Oct. 19, 2021. She was 90.

She was just 11 years old on Veterans Day, 1942, when she was selected to perform the traditional christening at the launch of an LST (Landing Ship Tank), one of a fleet of innovative new landing craft that the Newport News, Va., Shipbuilding yard was constructing as fast as possible.

Eventually, 1,051 LSTs would be built in 12 shipyards across America … but LST 393 was hers.

Lucy was given the broken neck (in a net covered with festive ribbons) as a souvenir. It became a treasured possession, displayed prominently in her home.

It is now displayed next to the museum’s other most coveted relic: the American flag that flew over the ship at Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Read Lucy's Obituary »

Support USS LST 393

Contribute to the preservation of USS LST 393.

You can now make a donation to the LST 393 Veterans Museum with any major credit card using our secure Paypal payment form.

LST 393’s 2023 Friday Night "Movies On Deck"

Movies on Deck is back for its 17th season, and it will be a blockbuster summer.

The Friday night film series is shown on USS LST 393’s huge screen on the top deck starting right after sunset, around 10 p.m. There is no charge to attend “Movies on Deck” screenings, although donations to help support the restoration and veterans museum are always welcome. Moviegoers should bring their own chairs; popcorn, soda and snacks are available for sale.

Click the poster to see the full schedule with event details.

Upcoming Events

Lst 393 events calendar.

Your source for the latest information on special events aboard the LST 393… Read more »

Visit LST 393

History will come alive for you as you take a fascinating tour of this historic ship … Read more »

America’s LSTs go to war

Read more about LST 393’s war record and the importance of LSTs in World War II … Read more »

Latest News

He was a retired Navy LST officer who wanted one last tour around a Landing Ship Tank’s bridge. He made it. Almost. Mathias Joseph Wey became a rarity... Read more »

Detroit Free Press - Ship that landed on D-Day, then hauled autos, now a museum in Muskegon Read more »

Gifts and Souvenirs

Take home a unique souvenir from the gift shop … Read more »

Make History on LST 393

LST 393 is a unique and historic facility ready to host your next social, corporate, or special event … Read more »

Have a Question?

Contact the museum curator or ask a question about an upcoming visit to LST 393 … Read more »

Trip Advisor Reviews

The USS LST 393 Veterans Museum is a Michigan non-profit corporation, created to restore and preserve USS LST 393. LST 393 is one of only two LST’s (Landing Ship Tank) remaining from 1,051 built during WWII. The corporation is incorporated under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Open : Tuesday through Sunday (May 28 to Sept. 1 plus Labor Day)

Open : Saturday - Sunday only (april 27-May 26, plus Memorial Day) (Sept. 3-Sept. 29)

Hours : Tickets sold 10 am to 4 pm. Purchase by credit or debit card only.

Cost : Adults $17.50, Students $12.50 Under 5 Free

Contact Details

Address: 560 Mart Street Muskegon, MI 49440

Main Phone: (231) 730-1477 (Year round)

Phone: (231) 722-4730 (Front desk)

Email: [email protected]

Photo Gallery

Images by ship's photographer Kendra Stanley-Mills. View more images in our photo galleries here »

Copyright © 2024 USS LST 393 Preservation Asociation Web Development by Shore FX

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Insider’s Guide to The Battleship USS Iowa Museum

Located near Long Beach on the Los Angeles waterfront, the Battleship USS Iowa Museum is a must-visit attraction for those interested in maritime history.

This West Coast battleship, the only one open to the public, boasts a rich history and has hosted three US Presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush. Visitors can walk the wood decks and explore areas such as the 16” guns, missile decks, and the famous Captain’s Cabin. The museum's newest attraction, Battleship Flight – A Naval Aviation Experience, offers guests an up-close view of a Korean War-era Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever Helicopter and a simulated ride in a Motion Flight Theater.

Tours & Exhibits

The USS Iowa Museum offers daily public tours from 10 AM to 4 PM and welcomes visitors onboard with an admission fee of $25.95.

TIP: Check for more information and order tickets on the USS Iowa Museum's website as prices for tours and exhibits are subject to change.

The USS Iowa offers four specialized tours for visitors: The Presidents Tour which delves into FDR's secret mission aboard the Iowa, the Guided Tour which offers a more personalized experience, the Gun Tour which takes visitors on a behind-the-scenes journey through the ship's levels and offers a view of the 16-inch guns, and the Engineering Tour which takes visitors below deck to explore most innovative warship of WWII and see the areas of .the anchor windless room, engine room, boiler room, after-steering, and several support facilities that keep the ship moving. All tours require a General Access Pass purchase, and must be booked in advance with tour times reserved prior to the planned arrival date.

The USS Iowa Museum features a variety of fascinating exhibits that explore different aspects of naval history and culture. Visitors can discover the diversity, leadership, and bravery of naval soldiers in the Surface Navy Heroes exhibit, or participate in a fun interactive scavenger hunt to find the museum's mascot, Victory "Vicky" the dog. Other exhibits include the Battleship of Presidents, which explores the history of the USS Iowa and the leaders who have been hosted aboard since 1943, and the Surface Ships exhibit, which takes visitors on a journey through time to explore the surface ships of the Navy over the decades.

Additionally, visitors can view the Korean War-era Piasecki HUP retriever helicopter up close, and learn more about the captivating mysteries and the human impact that surround shipwrecks found by Dr. Bob Ballard in the Lost at Sea exhibit. Finally, the Artifact Gallery offers a chance to see a wide variety of items on display, from photographs and books to uniforms and rifles. These exhibits and more are included in admission and many can be explored in person as well as online.

Bars & Restaurants

Vicky’s doghouse cafe.

Vicky’s Doghouse Cafe is a gourmet hotdog kitchen on the fantail of the Battleship IOWA. This eatery serves up classic American fare such as hot dogs, burgers, sandwiches, and sides. Guests can dine indoors or outside on the ship's deck with scenic views of the harbor. Vicky’s Doghouse is open daily from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM and does not require admission to the museum ship.

Veterans Resource Center

The USS IOWA is not just a museum, but a community platform that fosters camaraderie and support for veterans and civilians alike. Its veterans programs focus on honor, community, and prosperity, and the ship hosts various military ceremonies, retirements, and volunteer service days throughout the year. For more information on hosting an event on board the IOWA, please contact [email protected].

Weddings, Meetings & Private Events

Organize a group outing, tour or reserve space on board for your special event.

The USS Iowa Battleship is available for private events such as weddings, corporate events, and other social events. The ship offers a variety of event spaces, including the Admiral's Cabin, Captain's Quarters, Wardroom, Flight Deck and several other decks and outdoor areas. The ship can accommodate groups of up to 1,500 people and offers a range of catering options. Event organizers can also arrange for guided tours of the ship and access to special exhibits.

The museum offers in-house rentals for events, including 72" round tables, cocktail tables, folding chairs, folding chair covers, an expanded stage, and audio/visual equipment. Vicky's Cafe provides catering and beverage options for small to mid-level events. Event hosts can also bring their own caterer if they prefer. The Battleship IOWA offers VIP tours and exclusive tour guides, as well as a ship's store where guests can purchase souvenirs. During its time as an active Navy vessel, the Battleship IOWA was the spot where sailors could purchase official IOWA stationery for letters home, IOWA ball caps, and new dungarees. Today the ship’s store is an exciting source for all things IOWA! You can arrange a gift package for your meeting attendees or event guests from among the many affordable souvenirs.

The USS Iowa (BB-61) is a retired battleship that was commissioned in 1943 and has a storied history that includes serving in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. The ship is known for its size, firepower, and technological advancements, including the use of radar and the ability to launch aircraft. The ship was decommissioned in 1990 and later turned into a museum that is open to the public.

During World War II, the USS Iowa played a crucial role in battles in the Pacific, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf and the Battle of Okinawa. The ship was then decommissioned in 1949 but recommissioned in 1951 for the Korean War, where it provided gunfire support for ground troops and patrolled the Korean coastline. In the 1980s, the ship was modernized and deployed in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War.

In 2011, the USS Iowa battleship was donated to the Pacific Battleship Center, a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, by the United States Navy. The ship was relocated from the Maritime Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay, California, to the Port of Richmond and then to the Port of Los Angeles. The Battleship IOWA Museum officially opened to the public on July 4, 2012. Since its opening, the battleship has welcomed millions of visitors and has become a top five museum in the Los Angeles area. The center's mission has evolved to serve the community, providing various education, military, veteran, and community programs.

Today, the USS Iowa battleship is a popular museum ship located at the Los Angeles Waterfront. Visitors can explore the ship's decks and compartments, learning about the ship's history through interactive exhibits and guided tours. Some notable areas of the ship that visitors can explore include the 16-inch guns, missile decks, bridge, mess areas, and the Captain's Cabin, which includes the only bathtub installed on a battleship for a president.

For updates on museum happenings, events, and community initiatives visit the official Battleship Iowa Facebook , Instagram and Twitter accounts.

Fun Facts About the Battleship USS Iowa

• The USS Iowa is 887 feet and 3 inches long, about three football fields in length.
• The battleship weighs 45,000 tons and has a maximum speed of 33 knots, or approximately 38 mph.
• USS Iowa is one of the largest battleships ever built by the United States.
• At one point, the ship's crew consisted of 2,800 men, including 87 officers and 2,713 enlisted personnel.
• USS Iowa was armed with nine 16-inch guns, 20 five-inch guns, 80 40mm anti-aircraft guns, and 49 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
• USS Iowa was the first ship in her class and was followed by three other battleships: USS New Jersey, USS Missouri, and USS Wisconsin.
• The ship received nine battle stars for her service in World War II and two for her service in the Korean War.
• The USS Iowa is the only ship in its class to have a bathtub installed for the comfort of a US President. The bathtub was installed for Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II.
• The ship's 16-inch guns could fire shells that weighed as much as a small car and had a range of 24 miles.

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USS Silversides Museum

Plan Your Visit to the USS Silversides Submarine Museum

The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is located near the Lake Michigan lakeshore in Muskegon, MI. Our museum allows you to immerse yourself in WWII history, with a wide variety of permanent and temporary exhibits on display. While you’re here, you can tour a U.S. Coast Guard cutter as well as our namesake, the USS Silversides Gato-class submarine.

We are located west of downtown Muskegon, just south of the Muskegon Lake channel. 

Visit our Directions page for driving directions.

Winter Hours

(January, February)

Monday: 10am – 4pm 

Tuesday &  Wednesday CLOSED 

Thursday: 10am – 4pm

Friday & Saturday: 10am – 5:30pm

Sunday: 10am – 4pm

Spring & Fall Hours (March through May, September through December)

Sunday – Thursday: 10am – 4pm Friday & Saturday: 10am – 5:30pm

Combination Tickets

(Includes admission to submarine, cutter and museum)

Adults: $17.50 Senior (65+) or veteran: $15.00 Children (5-17): $13.00 Children under 5: Free Active-duty military: Free

Museum-only ticket

Ages 5 and up: $8.50

See our Membership page for more information

Exhibits at Silversides

Current Exhibit

Lake michigan's call to duty in wwii, visit our exhibits page to learn about past and upcoming exhibits at the uss silversides submarine museum, upcoming events at silversides, torpedo talks: vessel photography & photo preservation, wine & canvas on the water ($50), lost boat ceremony 2024.

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Museum Walk Through Guide

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Take a tour of a world war ii landing ship tank docking in cincinnati this week.

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A World War II Landing Ship Tank is docked in Cincinnati this week, and you can tour it.

The LST 325, a 328-foot-long ship, will be docked at the Public Boat Landing in Sawyer Point from Sept. 28 through Oct. 3

It was built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the U.S. Navy Shipyard. The ship was one of the first to be built and is the only one that's operational in the country.

The ship was there during the invasion at Omaha Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. It was also at Sicily on July 10, 1943.

The ships were able to carry 20 Sherman tanks in the giant hold within the ship and were the only ships ever made that could go anywhere in the world and deposit their cargo onto a hostile beach and then go get another load.

On the main deck, they could also carry 30 to 40 trucks, tons of fuel, ammunition or supplies and soldiers.

The ships were used during World War II, Korea and the Vietnam conflicts.

The ship will offer tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with $15 tickets for adults and $7.50 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance.

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Battleship Missouri Memorial

• The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
• USS Oklahoma Memorial
• Aviation Museum
• Transportation
• Attack Timeline
• Heroes & Survivors

The USS Missouri is perhaps the most famous Battleship ever built, she is 887 feet long and displaces 45,000 tons. She has traveled around the world and served her nation for decades. She is the “Mighty Mo.” and the second most popular site and one you certainly do not want to miss.

Choose a tour or passport ticket. The tour guide will take you to the most interesting parts of the ship and can tailor your tour to your interests. Be sure to ask the guides all of your questions. The Mighty Mo ticket offers a choice of a guided 35-minute look into the history of the Missouri or a 2-hour self-guided experience. Visitors can also choose to wander freely around the ship, stopping and spending time wherever their curiosity leads.

What You'll See

Ford Island's Battleship Row:  Since 1999, Missouri has rested in the spot where the USS Oklahoma sat when she was torpedoed and sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Since the Mighty Mo suffered only minimal damage throughout her long career, she offers a fantastic opportunity for you to get a first-hand look at life aboard a huge warship. You can go below decks for a taste of what life was like for the sailors within their tight quarters.

Visit the plaque on the Surrender Deck which served as the site where representatives of the Empire of Japan signed the documents ending World War II on September 2, 1945.

The Crew’s Room:  Ever wonder what it was like living aboard a battleship? The preserved Crew’s Room showcases a collection of artifacts donated by former USS Missouri crew members, within the crew quarters. See how they lived at sea for so long, and which items were most important to them once their service on board started.

The Chief Petty Officers Legacy Center : The USS Missouri currently serves as a training center for future Chief Petty Officers, so it makes sense that there would be an exhibit dedicated to the history of the Chief Petty Officer— the individual responsible for keeping the crew functioning smoothly. In this exhibit, visitors learn about the history of the CPO and about some of the notable individuals who held the position.

Archives and Collections:  This extensive collection of World War II relics brings to life the information about the Missouri’s service history, her crew, and the legacy she left behind. Read from the journal of ship’s baker Harold Campbell, and learn about the kamikaze attack on the Mighty Mo during the battle of Okinawa. New artifacts are added frequently, ensuring that this collection of relics is constantly expanding.

The Korean War - USS Missouri fired her guns during the Korean Conflict. The Battleship Missouri’s service history extended well beyond World War II. This exhibit details her part in the Korean War, including information on her two tours of duty.

The History of the USS Missouri

The story of the USS Missouri begins before World War II in 1940. She was built over the next four years and was commissioned in 1944. Senator Harry Truman’s daughter Margaret Truman christened the ship named after their home state.

After launching the Missouri she left the east coast through the Panama Canal to San Francisco, then Hawai‘i, to join the Pacific Fleet in Asia. She supported the troops landing in Iwo Jima.

Attacks in Okinawa

The Missouri raided Japan and attacked Okinawa. She successfully stopped an attack by Japanese forces on the shores of Okinawa. Just weeks later on April 11, 1944, a Kamikaze plane hit the starboard side of the Battleship USS Missouri. Fortunately for the sailors, the plane did not explode or cause major damage to the ship. The kamikaze dent can still be seen on the ship today. Visitors to the Battleship Missouri Memorial can also enjoy a new exhibit about WWII kamikaze pilots.

The Surrender 

The Missouri is perhaps best- known for her contribution in the surrender of the Empire of Japan at Tokyo Bay ending WWII. If you take a tour of the Battleship USS Missouri, you can walk on the Surrender Deck and learn more stories about the historic surrender.

On September 2, 1945, representatives of the United States and the Allied Nations met with Japanese officials for the signing of the Instrument of Surrender. It was the event that officially ended World War II. The ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63), a battleship that would go on to have a long and successful service. After being decommissioned and retired from active service, the Mighty Mo found her way to Pearl Harbor to become a museum ship.

Battleship USS Missouri After WWII

Over the next decade, the Mighty Mo logged significant miles as she traveled the world. She was put in the Pacific Reserve Fleeting in 1955 for almost thirty years before she was modernized and activated again.

The vibrant history of the Mighty Mo has enamored Americans for years. In 1998 she was moved to Pearl Harbor and the Battleship Missouri Memorial opened in 1999. She has taken a position as an icon of peacekeeper, watching over her fallen allies still in the hull of the USS Arizona just 400 yards away.

Other USS Missouri Vessels

There have been four other vessels of the United State Navy that share the name USS Missouri. The first one is USS Missouri (1841), a side-wheel frigate released in 1841 and damaged by fire in Aug 1843. Second, USS Missouri (BB-11), a Maine category battleship in service from 1990 to 1992, The third is the USS Missouri (BB-63), an lowa Class battleship in service from 1944 to 1998; Lastly, the USS Missouri (SSN-780) a Virginia class submarine commissioned in 2010.

After being decommissioned, the “Mighty Mo” was returned to Pearl Harbor as a museum ship. Exploring the battleship gives visitors a look at how the crew lived while at sea. They also learn about the Missouri’s service history through the following exhibits.

Why Is the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor?

What may confuse some is that Missouri wasn’t commissioned into service until 1944, long after the Imperial Japanese Navy launched the attack on Pearl Harbor. While it might seem odd that a vessel that hadn’t even been built on December 7, 1941, found a home at the location of the Japanese attack, it’s important to remember that Pearl Harbor is more than the site of the attack that launched the War in the Pacific. It’s a place of symbolism, where the USS Arizona Memorial remembers the tragic event that started the conflict. On the opposite end of that arc, there is the Battleship Missouri, which commemorates the end of the war, the immense sacrifices made, and hope for the future.

Helpful Tips

Learn a little about the history of the ship before visiting.

This is our advice for anywhere that you plan to tour. The more you know, the more enjoyable it is. For example, did you know that it was on the decks of the Battleship Missouri that the Japanese surrendered in Tokyo Bay ending WWII took place?

Read all of the Pearl Harbor security policies before your visit

There you’ll find current security information, including rules that you cannot drive your rental car to the USS Missouri and that bags of any kind are not allowed. It is important to be aware before going.

Baggage Policy

Remember, no bags of any size are allowed anywhere at Pearl Harbor, including on the Missouri. Backpacks, camera bags, purses, luggage, and fanny packs must all be left at the baggage storage at the entrance to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.

Wear sunscreen and a hat

While the Missouri has plenty of shade, there are areas of the Battleship that are in direct sunlight. You don’t want to miss out one those sights because you are unprepared for the powerful Hawaiian sun.

Look over the port side of the Battleship Missouri

Look over the port side of the Battleship Missouri to see the dent left by a failed kamikaze. There is now an exhibit at the memorial about kamikazes of WWII. Have a look at it as well.

Watch movies that featured the Battleship Missouri

She was the star of the movie Battleship. Perhaps you didn’t watch this big-budget film when it came out, but you should now because it has great footage of the Missouri. Another film with good shots of the ship is Under Siege with Steven Segal.

Outside of the Missouri is the Oklahoma Memorial

This is not one of the most-visited sites at Pearl Harbor, but it is a well-designed memorial to the men who died on the USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor. A visit can be done in 5 minutes after touring the Battleship Missouri.

Food options

Everybody needs sustenance, and wandering around a huge World War II-era battleship is sure to get the appetite going. Near the Battleship Missouri, guests will find Slider’s Grill for a Chicago hot dog or perfectly grilled cheeseburger. Wai Momi Shave Ice complements that burger with flavorful and colorful shaved ice or even a cinnamon-laced churro. For simple drinks and snacks, there’s the Battleshop, a sort of convenience store for Battleship Missouri guests.

What to wear

While you’re free to wear what you find comfortable, please use common sense when dressing for your visit. It’s not appropriate for a place like Pearl Harbor to wear a bathing suit or clothing with profanity. Not only is the Battleship Missouri a family attraction, but it’s also one that deserves respect for its place in US history.

Accessibility

Most areas of the Battleship Missouri are handicap-accessible with wheelchair ramps and elevators that take guests to the various levels including the spot where the Japanese signed the Instrument of Surrender ending World War II.

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War in the Pacific Tour with Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor

The tour has far exceeded our expectations. We have loved getting to know you and to share this wonderful experience with you.

– Gary and Joy Peck

War in the Pacific Tour is a transformative experience!

Travel with our historians to the islands where the battles raged during the War in the Pacific, where “uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Our experts in WWII history will discuss the American and Japanese strategies and how these strategies actually played out on the Pacific islands of Hawaii, Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Iwo Jima.

Our tour is the most comprehensive War in the Pacific Tour. We visit Battleship Row at Pearl Harbor where the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941 and the remains of the sunken USS Arizona rests. We explore the invasion beaches of Saipan where hundreds of Japanese jumped to their deaths. We travel to Tinian, which is where the departure airfield for the Enola Gay and the atomic bomb was located. We learn about the battle sites on Guam, key in the story of the Navajo Indian code talkers role, and also the site of the War Dog Memorial. We experience the emotion of climbing Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima, where the American flag was raised to symbolize victory on Iwo Jima, an iconic image forever etched in our minds.

Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor Memorial Service

SAHT is proud to partner with the Iwo Jima Association of America (IJAA) to bring Iwo Jima Veterans, family members, historians, educators, and those who need to walk the “Black Sands of Iwo Jima” to the island where the most iconic battle of the Pacific Theater occurred. The IJAA, in coordination with the Japanese Government, the Iwo Jima Association of Japan, and military commands from both countries, will conduct a joint “Reunion of Honor” ceremony on Iwo Jima. 

With its three airfields, Iwo Jima was ideally located as a fighter-escort station. It was also an ideal sanctuary for crippled bombers returning from Japan.

• The U.S. Air Force fought in the longest sustained aerial offensive of the war.
• More Marines were sent to Iwo Jima than to any other battle.
• More medals for heroism were awarded for action on Iwo Jima than any battle in the history of the U.S.

This is only an inkling of the history you will learn as you island-hop through the War in the Pacific.

All guests going to Iwo Jima must attend the full tour. However, guests can sign up for the the tour without the day trip to Iwo Jima. Because entry on Iwo Jima is limited to American passport holders, our international guests will have a free day on Guam during the day visit to Iwo.

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• Reunion of Honor Memorial Service: Attend the day-long Memorial Tour and Observance on Iwo Jima
• Hawaii: Visit Battleship Row in Hawaii where the remains of the sunken USS Arizona rests
• Saipan: Walk the invasion beaches of Saipan, Harakiri Gulch, and Marpi Point, where hundreds of Japanese jumped to their deaths
• Tinian: Visit the launching field for the Enola Gay and atomic bomb
• Guam: See the key battle sites on Guam and the War Dog Memorial
• Mt. Suribachi: Climb Mt. Suribachi, where the American flag was raised on Iwo Jima

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Our tour will begin at the Welcome Reception and Dinner at the Honolulu hotel. You will meet the Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours staff and your fellow travelers.

Ford Island is the centerpiece of the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark District and adjacent to Battleship Row. The original airfield, air tower, WWII hangars, a collection of bungalows and officers’ housing remain on the site.

Battleship Row, home to the USS Arizona Memorial, is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941. The loss of life on this “Day of Infamy” became the focal point for a nation that was previously divided over the issue of involvement in the war.

The group will visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific and the Honolulu Memorial, referred to as the Punchbowl. Located in Puowaina Crater, roughly translated, “Puowaina” means “Hill of Sacrifice.” Here you will hear an overview of the entire Pacific War.

Saipan and Tinian

The capture of Saipan was one of the turning points of the war in the Pacific. Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Miwa of the Japanese Navy said, “Our war was lost with the loss of Saipan.”

In Saipan, you will visit the Invasion Beaches and battle sites of Operation Forager. Our historians will discuss the combat between the Americans and the Japanese during the 24 days it took to secure the island. Names that testified to the bitter fighting were given, such as Death Valley, Purple Heart Ridge and Harakiri Gulch, where the last major battle of the island occurred.

You will visit Aslito Airfield, as well as Mount Topotchau, and Marpi Point. It was at Marpi Point that hundreds of Japanese civilian families jumped to their deaths. Droves of Japanese soldiers also committed suicide at the many cliffs around Saipan, either jumping to their death, or by grenade.

Tinian is perhaps most famous for being the departure site for atomic bomb. The USS Indianapolis, prior to its departure for the Philippines, delivered this secret cargo to Tinian. Our historians will talk about the USS Indianapolis, the sinking of the ship and survival of the crew in the shark-infested waters. While in Tinian, we will spend some time focusing on the Tinian airport, which in 1945, was perhaps the busiest and largest in the world. At North Field, look for the plaques that mark the location of the bomb loading pits for the “Enola Gay” and “Bocks Car.”

Our study of Guam will begin with the Invasion Beaches, Asan and Agat beaches. These two invasion beaches, separated by the Orote Peninsula, are located six miles apart, on the west central coast of Guam.

Asan Point is a primary visitor area where the overall story of the Pacific War is told by means of museum exhibits. Historic sites, including a number of gun emplacements, caves, foxholes and pillboxes are located within the Asan Beach Unit. Gaan Point, at the center of Agat Beach, is another place of interest, which also contains many WWII sites and structures. The beach and offshore area here are relatively unspoiled and provides a good impression of how they looked in 1944.

One interesting aspect of the recapture of Guam was the role played by the Navajo Indian servicemen, who operated the radios openly conversing in their native tongue, unknown to the Japanese. This successful tactic completely baffled the Japanese, who expected to hear coded English. Another interesting place to visit in Guam is The War Dog Memorial. Located on the Naval Facility, it honors the Dobermans that served with the Marines in 1944 and who were killed in action performing duties such as leading scouting parties, exploring caves and serving as sentries.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will take a charter flight to Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima, with its three airfields, was ideally located as a fighter-escort station; it was also an ideal sanctuary for crippled bombers returning from Japan. The U.S. Air Force fought in the longest sustained aerial offensive of the war, and more Marines were sent to Iwo Jima than to any other battle. More medals for heroism were awarded for action on Iwo Jima than any battle in the history of the U.S. Our historians will discuss the American and Japanese strategies and the bloody battle that ensued for 36 days as we tour Iwo Jima. It is atop Mt. Suribachi that the flag was raised, indicating victory on Iwo Jima. It is this picture that is etched in our minds as we remember Iwo Jima, “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.”

Farewell Day

Our last day in Guam will be a free morning to recover and reflect from yesterday’s trip to Iwo Jima. Our tour will conclude that evening at a Farewell Dinner, hosted by the 3rd Marine Corps Division Association Guam.

• 2024 Japanese Extension - April 1 - 6, 2024
• 2025 Tour - March 2025
• 2025 Koror & Peleliu Extension - March 2025
• 2025 Japanese Extension - March 2025

Recommended Reading and Viewing

• Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley
• Strong Men Armed by Robert Leckie
• With the Old Breed by Eugene Sledge
• A Tomb Called Iwo Jima by Dan King
• Iwo Jima: The Dramatic Account of the Epic Battle that Turned the Tide of World War II by Richard F. Newcomb
• Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
• From Here to Eternity (1953)
• The Final Countdown (1980)

Tour Includes

• Group flights: Hawaii – Saipan – Tinian – Guam – Iwo Jima – Hawaii
• Access to Iwo Jima and the Reunion of Honor Memorial Service
• Full-time historian and tour manager
• Educational road book full of maps and historical information
• First-class accommodations in four or five-star hotels, all taxes, porterage (where available), and service charges
• Touring by private first-class air-conditioned motor coach
• A Welcome Reception, daily breakfasts, and several lunches and dinners 
• All entrance fees to museums and attractions

Physical Demands

There is a lot of flying on this tour. If you have issues with blood clots, please speak to your doctor. Iwo Jima is a tropical, volcanic island that is covered with low vegetation and heat-radiating sand. There is no native population on the island, only Japanese military personnel. As a result, creature comforts are few or non-existent. Since it does not offer the most hospitable conditions for visitors, expect to deal with the elements while on the island, whether it is sunny and hot or windy and rainy. There is some transportation provided by the Japanese government, but veterans and their families are given priority. Some guests will have the opportunity to use this transportation, but there may be long wait periods. Walking is always an option and can be strenuous at times, such as when we ascend Mt. Suribachi.

Photo Gallery

• Chris Anderson
• Don Farrell
• Martin K.A. Morgan
• Mark Waycaster

Tour Price Format: Land + Flights

The SAHT War in the Pacific Tour cost is broken down to the Reunion of Honor ceremony on Iwo Jima, the land-based cost of the tour, and flights. The land-based cost includes hotels, buses, admission, and staff, but excludes commercially available flights between Honolulu, Guam, Saipan, and Tinian. United will calculate each party's flight costs individually based on when they are booking flights, where your flights start/end, and upgraded seats.

2024 Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor Memorial Service

$3,045 per person. All guests going to Iwo Jima must attend the full tour. However, guests can sign up for the tour without the day trip to Iwo Jima. Because entry on Iwo Jima is limited to American passport holders, our international guests will have a free day on Guam during the day visit to Iwo.

2024 War in the Pacific tour

The tour-only, land-based price is $7,745 per person based on double occupancy. If rooming alone, there will be a single occupancy supplement of $1,700. Flight costs will be calculated separately and added to each statement.

(Tour plus Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor equals $10,790 per person in the case of double occupancy.)

2024 Peleliu & Koror Extension

The Peleliu and Koror extension cost is $2,410 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement of $600 if rooming alone. There is limited room on the extension. Not all requests are guaranteed a seat.

2024 Japanese Extension

The Japanese extension cost is $3,500 per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement of $600 if rooming alone.

2025 Tour and Extensions

Dates and prices for the 2025 War in the Pacific Tour with the Renuinon of Honor, as well as the optional extensions, will be announced. However, we are taking $500 per person deposits for first refusal when we do announce the 2025 dates and prices.

Our Guests’ Reviews

There are 8 reviews for ' War in the Pacific Tour with Iwo Jima Reunion of Honor '. Add your review

Iwo Jima Tour 2023

What a great time and a great group of people. It was 3 years of waiting after COVID canceled the 2020 75th Anniversary Tour.

The wait was worth it, I got to go with my son, Alden, who is 13 years old. He got to have a blast and maybe he doesn’t realize it yet, but he got to meet the WWII veterans that were part of our trip. When he gets older and the last of them are gone, this will be a special moment for me and for him. We are forever grateful for them and for the heroes that never made it home.

It has been about a month since we got back and I am still recovering from all the stuff we saw and got to absorb. From abandoned air raid bunkers left by the Japanese Military, to tanks and LST’s in the water from the numerous D-Day type of invasions on Saipan, Guam and of course Iwo Jima.

Overall, the historians had unimaginable knowledge of not only the battles themselves, but who was in charge, who was relieved of command, and a host of other knowledge that put us in a place that we could imagine what it was like, of course without bullets flying at us.

I can only imagine what the other trips to Normandy and other historical sites might be like, but Iwo Jima in particular had significant meaning for my family and I want to thank all that went and made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Thanks SAHT for a great trip.

War in the Pacific - 2014

My son Ryan and I were on this tour in 2014. This was my first experience with SAHT, both of us were immensely impressed. If fact I have enjoyed 3 additional tours since then. Starting on Oahu we viewed all of the key sights associated with the Japanese raid on Dec 7. Many of these were behind the scenes and not accessible to the average tourist. From there we proceeded to Saipan. Tinian and Guam. All were very interesting and our guide Mr. Ron Drez was able to paint a picture of the fighting and historical significance that took place in every place we stopped. Driving across Tinian on what was in reality a ghost town compared to the frenzy of 1944 allowed you to transport yourself back to that time. The high point of this trip was the time spent on Iwo Jima. Standing on top of Mount Surabaci accompanied by a handful of veterans was a humbling experience. Ryan and I watched as these men raised a flag exactly on the spot where the well known picture was taken. I was honored to be in the company of these heroes, sharing that experience with my son was priceless. Moments that neither of us will ever forget. Like all SAHT tours all accommodations and arrangements were first class and amazingly organized.

2018 War in the Pacific and Iwo Jima Tour

I had been thinking about this Tour for five years and finally made a commitment to plan my calendar around this Extraordinary Opportunity this year. It so vastly exceeded my expectations on every level. Ron Drez and his wife, Judy, were both exceptional Guides and Hosts every step of the way. I thought I knew most everything about Pearl Harbor, but Ron’s connections and knowledge took us to places and stories that were all new, and added immensely to my historical body of knowledge. Amazing trips followed to Guam, Saipan and Tinian – places where my father had been during his service in WWII aboard the US Navy Attack Transport USS Oconto. The opportunity to retrace his journey was priceless.

The Crown Jewel Highlight, however was the Reunion of Honor flight and visit to Iwo Jima. Standing atop Mount Suribachi and walking along the Black Sand Invasion Beaches was a Lifetime Dream come true. The experience of being on Iwo Jima with the few remaining WWII Veterans who were there, along with young Marines serving today who hosted us on the island, made for one of the Best Days of my Life. Worth every penny and every day invested to get there! Thanks to Ron, Judy and Ambrose Tours for organizing and orchestrating an unforgettable Tour experience. I would do it again someday, without thinking twice about the decision.

Iwo Jima Tour: War in the Pacific

My wife and I made the tour in 2016 and the post tour to Peleliu. This trip was incredible with access to normally closed areas on Ford Island and Hickam Field. Seeing the loading pits for the Enola Gay and Bockscar on Tinian and the enormity of North Field really helped to bring the size of the US commitment into perspective. Climbing the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima and then Mt Suribachi was followed by the opportunity to talk with survivors of the battle. On to Peleliu with its coral caves filled with Japanese saki bottles and seeing the relatively undisturbed leftovers of war was amazing. Ron Drez provided a lot of information and insight into the various sites. Highly recommend both the main trip as well as the Peleliu post tour. Only downside was heat and humidity on Peleliu, but that only helped to further elucidate the difficulties of that miserable battle. Thanks to Mark Lettow (earlier review) for bringing the flag for pictures atop Mt. Suribachi.

War in the Pacific Tour

We took the Pacific Tour in 2016 and we still can’t stop thinking about it! It was the best travel experience of our lifetime. Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Iwo Jima all provide lasting memories of the sites we saw and the things we learned. It was an adventure with moving experiences. We felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Our tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us time to explore a little on our own as well. I was able to pay honor to my uncle who was a veteran of several Pacific battles before being killed on Saipan. I will be forever thankful that I was able to do that for our family. Pack smart and make room for a flag in your daypack!

Deeply moving and exceptional

Iwo Jima was deeply moving and exceptional. The historian’s observations and comments truly enhanced the struggles and memories of the is battle, which can never be over emphasized.

Amazing, inspiring and challenging experience

Ultimately PEOPLE made the trip. Our group was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, friendly and positive….Being able to converse and rub shoulders with the old gentlemen vets was one of the highlight. Our brief time on Iwo was historic, mythic, eerie, prayerful and extremely moving. Suribachi looming ominously over the killing fields and cold surf washing up on the iconic black sand beaches, it was an amazing, inspiring and challenging experience.

Such an honor

We enjoyed all of the tour, but in particular Iwo Jima, the island itself, and Tinian. It was such an honor to get to see it and especially to visit with the veterans about what it means to them.

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The Battleship Wisconsin

Berthed at Nauticus, the Battleship  Wisconsin  is one of the largest and last battleships ever built by the U.S. Navy. Explore its deck through a self-guided tour or, with an additional charge, our guided tours that will take you back in time to experience this majestic ship that earned five battle stars during WWII.

The History of the Wisconsin

Battleship  Wisconsin  (BB-64), an Iowa-class battleship, was the second ship of the United States Navy named in honor of the 30th state. Her keel was laid down on January 25, 1941 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. She was launched on December 7, 1943 sponsored by Mrs. Walter S. Goodland, and commissioned on April 16, 1944, with Captain Earl E. Stone in command.

After her trials and initial training in the Chesapeake Bay,  Wisconsin  departed Norfolk, Virginia, on July 7, 1944, bound for the British West Indies. Following her shakedown, conducted out of Trinidad, the third Iowa-class battleship to join the Fleet returned to her builder’s yard for post-shakedown repairs and alterations.

On 24 September 1944 ,  Wisconsin  sailed for the west coast, transited the Panama Canal, and reported for duty with the Pacific Fleet on 2 October. The battleship later moved to Hawaiian waters for training exercises and then headed for the Western Caroline Islands. Upon reaching Ulithi on 9 December, she joined Admiral William F. Halsey’s Third Fleet.

The powerful new warship had arrived at a time when the reconquest of the Philippines was well underway. As a part of that movement, the planners had envisioned landings on the southwest coast of Mindoro, south of Luzon. From that point, American forces could threaten Japanese shipping lanes through the South China Sea.

The day before the amphibians assaulted Mindoro, the Third Fleet’s Fast Carrier Task Force (TF) 38, supported in art by  Wisconsin , rendered Japanese facilities at Manila largely useless. Between 14 December and 16 December, TF 38’s naval aviators secured complete tactical surprise and quickly won complete mastery of the air and sank or destroyed 27 Japanese vessels; damaged 60 more; destroyed 269 planes; and bombed miscellaneous ground installations.

The next day the weather, however, soon turned sour for Halsey’s sailors. A furious typhoon struck his fleet, catching many ships refueling and with little ballast in their nearly dry bunkers. Three destroyers,  Hull  (DD-350), M onaghan  (DD-354), and  Spence  (DD-512), capsized and sank.  Wisconsin  proved her seaworthiness as she escaped the storm unscathed.

As heavily contested as they were, the Mindoro operations proved only the introduction to another series of calculated blows aimed at the occupying Japanese in the Philippines. For  Wisconsin , her next operation was the occupation of Luzon. Bypassing the southern beaches, American amphibians went ashore at Lingayen Gulf, the scene of the Japanese landings nearly three years before.

Wisconsin , armed with heavy antiaircraft batteries, performed escort duty for TF 38’s fast carriers during air strikes against Formosa, Luzon, and the Nansei Shoto, to neutralize Japanese forces there and to cover the unfolding Lingayen Gulf operations. Those strikes, lasting from 3 January to 22 January 1945, included a thrust into the South China Sea, in the hope that major units of the Japanese Navy could be drawn into battle.

Air strikes between Saigon and Camranh Bay, Indochina, on 12 January resulted in severe losses for the enemy. TF 38’s warplanes sank 41 ships and damaged heavily damaged docks, storage areas, and aircraft facilities. At least 112 enemy planes would never again see operational service. Formosa, already struck on 3 January and 4 January, again fell victim to the marauding American airmen, being smashed again on 9 January, 15 January, and 21 January. Soon, Hong Kong, Canton, and Hainan Island felt the brunt of TF 38’s power. Besides damaging and sinking Japanese shipping, American planes from the task force set the Canton oil refineries afire and blasted the Hong Kong Naval Station. They also raided Okinawa on 22 January, considerably lessening enemy air activities that could threaten the Luzon landings.

Assigned to the Fifth Fleet when Admiral Raymond A. Spruance relieved Admiral Halsey as Commander of the Fleet Wisconsin  moved northward with the redesignated TF 58 as the carriers headed for the Tokyo area. On 16 February 1945, the task force approached the Japanese coast under cover of adverse weather conditions and achieved complete tactical surprise. As a result, they shot down 322 enemy planes and destroyed 177 more on the ground, Japanese shipping, both naval and merchant, suffered drastically, too, as did hangars and aircraft installations. Moreover, all this damage to the enemy had cost the American Navy only 49 planes.

The task force moved to Iwo Jima on 17 February to provide direct support for the landings slated to take place on that island on 19 February. It revisited Tokyo on 25 February and, the next day, hit the island of Hachino off the coast of Honshu. During these raids, besides causing heavy damage or ground facilities, the American planes sank five small vessels and destroyed 158 planes.

On 1 March , reconnaissance planes flew over the island of Okinawa, taking last minute intelligence photographs to be used in planning the assault on that island. The next day, cruisers from TF 58 shelled Okino Daito Shima in training for the forthcoming operation. The force then retired to Ulithi for replenishment.

Wisconsin’s  task force stood out of Ulithi on 14 March, bound for Japan. The mission of that group was to eliminate airborne resistance from the Japanese homeland to American forces off Okinawa. Enemy fleet units at Kure and Kobe, on southern Honshu, reeled under the impact of the explosive blows delivered by TF 58’s airmen. On 18 March and 19 March, from a point 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Kyushu, TF 58 hit enemy airfields on that island. However, the Japanese drew blood during that action when Kamikaze attacks against TF58 on 19 March seriously damaged the carrier  Franklin  (CV-13).

That afternoon, the task force retired from Kyushu, screening the blazing and battered flattop. In doing so, the screen shot down 48 attackers. At the conclusion of the operation, the force felt that it had achieved its mission of prohibiting any large-scale resistance from the air to the slated landings on Okinawa.

On 24 March,  Wisconsin  trained her 16 inch (406 mm) guns on targets ashore on Okinawa. Together with the other battlewagons of the task force, she pounded Japanese positions and installations in preparation for the landings. Although fierce, Japanese resistance was doomed to fail by dwindling numbers of aircraft and trained pilots. In addition, the Japanese fleet, steadily hammered by air attacks from Fifth Fleet aircraft, found itself confronted by a growing, powerful, and determined enemy. On 17 April, the undaunted enemy battleship  Yamato , with her 460 mm guns, sortied to attack the American invasion fleet off Okinawa. Met head-on by a swarm of carrier planes,  Yamato , the light cruiser  Yahagi , and four destroyers were sunk, the victims of massed air power. Never again would the Japanese fleet present a major challenge to the American fleet in the war in the Pacific.

While TF 58’s planes were off dispatching  Yamato  and her consorts to the bottom of the South China Sea, enemy aircraft struck back at American surface units. Combat air patrols (CAP) shot down 15 enemy planes, and ships’ gunfire shot down another three, but not before one Kamikaze attack penetrated the CAP and screen to crash on the flight deck of the fleet carrier  Hancock (CV-19). On 11 April, the Japanese renewed their Kamikaze attacks; and only drastic maneuvers and heavy barrages of gunfire saved the task force. None of the strikes achieved any direct hits, although near-misses, close aboard, managed to cause some minor damage. Combat air patrols shot down 17 planes, and ships’ gunfire shot down 12. The next day, 151 enemy aircraft attacked TF 58, but  Wisconsin , bristling with five inch (127 mm), 40 mm and 20 mm guns, together with other units of the screens for the vital carriers, kept the Kamikaze pilots at bay and destroyed them before they could reach their targets.

Over the days that ensued, American task force planes hit Japanese facilities and installations in the enemy’s homeland. Redoubling their efforts, suicide attacks managed to crash into three carriers on successive days  Intrepid (CV-11),  Bunker Hill  (CV-17) and  Enterprise  (CV-6).

By 4 June, a typhoon was swirling through the Fleet.  Wisconsin  rode out the storm unscathed, but three cruisers, two carriers, and a destroyer suffered serious damage. Offensive operations were resumed on 8 June with a final aerial assault on Kyushu. Japanese aerial response was pitifully small; 29 planes were located and destroyed. On that day, one of  Wisconsin’s  floatplanes landed and rescued a downed pilot from the carrier  Shangri-La  (CV-38).

Wisconsin  ultimately put into Leyte Gulf and dropped anchor there on 18 June for repairs and replenishment. Three weeks later, on 1 July, the battleship and her consorts sailed once more for Japanese home waters for carrier air strikes on the enemy’s heartland. Nine days later, carrier planes from TF 38 destroyed 72 enemy aircraft on the ground and smashed industrial sites in the Tokyo area. So little was the threat from the dwindling Japanese air arm that the Americans made no attempt whatever to conceal the location of their armada which was operating off her shores with impunity.

On 16 July,  Wisconsin  fired the 16 inch (406 mm) guns at the steel mills and oil refineries at Muroran, Hokkaido. Two days later, she wrecked industrial facilities in the Hitachi Miro area, on the coast of Honshu, northeast of Tokyo itself. During that bombardment, British battleships of the Eastern Fleet contributed their heavy shellfire. By that point in the war, Allied warships were able to shell the Japanese homeland almost at will.

Task Force 38’s planes subsequently blasted the Japanese naval base at Yokosuka, and put the former fleet flagship Nagato  out of action, one of the two remaining Japanese battleships. On 24 July and 25 July, American carrier planes visited the Inland Sea region, blasting enemy sites on Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Kure then again came under attack. Six major fleet units were located there and badly damaged, marking the virtual end of Japanese sea power.

Over the weeks that ensued, TF 38 continue its raids on Japanese industrial facilities, airfields, and merchant and naval shipping. Admiral Halsey’s airmen visited destruction upon the Japanese capital for the last time on 13 August 1945. Two days later, the Japanese surrendered. World War II was over at last.

Wisconsin , as part of the occupying force, arrived at Tokyo Bay on 6 September, three days after the formal surrender occurred on board the battleship  Missouri  (BB-63). During  Wisconsin’s  brief career in World War II, she had steamed 105,831 miles (170,318 km) since commissioning; had shot down three enemy planes; had claimed assists on four occasions; and had fueled her screening destroyers on some 250 occasions.

Text provided by Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS), Vol. VIII, pp. 433-37.

Shifting subsequently to Okinawa,  the battleship embarked homeward-bound GIs on 22 September, as part of Operation Magic Carpet staged to bring soldiers, sailors, and marines home from the far-flung battlefronts of the Pacific. Departing Okinawa on 23 September,  Wisconsin  reached Pearl Harbor on 4 October, remaining there for five days before she pushed on for the west coast on the last leg of her state-side bound voyage. She reached San Francisco, California, on 15 October.

Heading for the east coast of the United States soon after the start of the new year, 1946,  Wisconsin  transited the Panama Canal between 11 January and 13 January and reached Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 18 January. Following a cruise south to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the battleship entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for overhaul. After repairs and alterations that consumed the summer months,  Wisconsin sailed for South American waters.

Over the weeks that ensued, the battleship visited Valparaiso, Chile, from 1 November to 6 November; Callao, Peru, from 9 November to 13 November; Balboa, Canal Zone, from 16 November to 20 November; and La Guajira, Venezuela, from 22 November to 26 November, before returning to Norfolk on 2 December 1946.

Wisconsin  spent nearly all of 1947 as a training ship, taking naval reservists on two-week cruises throughout the year. Those voyages commenced at Bayonne, New Jersey, and saw visits conducted at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Panama Canal Zone. While underway at sea, the ship would perform various drills and exercises before the cruise would end where it had started, at Bayonne. During June and July of 1947,  Wisconsin  took United States Naval Academy midshipmen on cruises to northern European waters.

In January 1948,  Wisconsin  joined the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at Norfolk, for inactivation. Placed out of commission, in reserve on 1 July 1948  Wisconsin  was assigned to the Norfolk group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

Her sojourn in “mothballs,” however, was comparatively brief because of the North Korean invasion of South Korea in late June 1950.   Wisconsin was recommissioned, on 3 March 1951 with Captain Thomas Burrowes in command. After shakedown training, the revitalized battleship conducted two midshipmen training cruises, taking the officers-to-be to Edinburgh, Scotland; Lisbon, Portugal; Halifax, Nova Scotia; New York City; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before she returned to Norfolk.

Wisconsin  departed Norfolk on 25 October 1951, bound for the Pacific. She transited the Panama Canal on 29 October and reached Yokosuka, Japan, on 21 November. There, she relieved  New Jersey  (BB-62) as flagship for Vice Admiral H. M. Martin, Commander, Seventh Fleet.

On 26 November, with Vice Admiral Martin and Rear Admiral F.P. Denebrink, Commander, Service Force, Pacific, embarked,  Wisconsin  departed Yokosuka for Korean waters to support the fast carrier operations of TF 77. She left the company of the carrier force on 2 December and, screened by the destroyer  Wiltsie  (DD-716), provided gunfire support for the Republic of Korea (ROK) Corps in the Kasong-Kosong area. After disembarking Admiral Denebrink on 3 December at Kangnung, the battleship resumed station on the Korean “bombline,” providing gunfire support for the American 1st Marine Division.  Wisconsin’s  shellings accounted for a tank, two gun emplacements, and a building. She continued her gunfire support task for the 1st Marine Division and 1st ROK Corps through 6 December, accounting for enemy bunkers, artillery positions, and troop concentrations. On one occasion during that time, the battleship received a request for call-fire support and provided three star-shells for the 1st ROK Corps, illuminating a communist attack that was consequently repulsed with considerable enemy casualties.

After being relieved on the gunline by the heavy cruiser  St. Paul  (CA-78) on 6 December,  Wisconsin  retired only briefly from gunfire support duties. She resumed them, however, in the Kasong-Kosong area on 11 December screened by the destroyer  Twining  (DD-540). The following day, 12 December, saw the embarkation in  Wisconsin  of Rear Admiral H. R. Thurber, Commander, Battleship Division 2. The admiral came on board via helicopter, incident to his inspection trip in the Far East.

The battleship continued naval gunfire support duties on the “bombline,” shelling enemy bunkers, command posts, artillery positions, and trench systems through 14 December. She departed the “bombline” on that day to render special gunfire support duties in the Kojo area blasting coastal targets in support of United Nations (UN) troops ashore. That same day, she returned to the Kasong-Kosong area. On 15 December, she disembarked Admiral Thurber by helicopter. The next day,  Wisconsin  departed Korean waters, heading for Sasebo to rearm.

Returning to the combat zone on 17 December,  Wisconsin  embarked United States Senator Homer Ferguson of Michigan on 18 December. That day, the battleship supported the 11th ROK invasion with night illumination fire that enabled the ROK troops to repulse a communist assault with heavy enemy casualties. Departing the “bombline” on 19 December, the battleship later that day transferred her distinguished passenger, Senator Ferguson, by helicopter to the carrier  Valley Forge  (CV-45).

Wisconsin  next participated in a coordinated air-surface bombardment of Wonsan to neutralize pre-selected targets. She shifted her bombardment station to the western end of Wonsan harbor, hitting boats and small craft in the inner swept channel during the afternoon. Such activities helped to forestall any communist attempts to assault the friendly-held islands in the Wonsan area.  Wisconsin  then made an anti-boat sweep to the north, firing the five inch (127 mm) batteries on suspected boat concentrations. She then provided gunfire support to UN troops operating at the “bombline” until three days before Christmas 1951. She then rejoined the carrier task force.

On 28 December , Francis Cardinal Spellman, on a Korean tour over the Christmas holidays, visited the ship, coming on board by helicopter to celebrate Mass for the Catholic members of the crew. He left the ship by helicopter off Pohang. Three days later, on the last day of the year,  Wisconsin  put into Yokosuka.

Wisconsin  departed that Japanese port on 8 January 1952 and headed for Korean waters once more. She reached Pusan the following day and entertained the President of South Korea, Syngman Rhee, and his wife, on 10 January. President and Mrs. Rhee received full military honors as they came on board, and he reciprocated by awarding Vice Admiral Martin the ROK Order of the Military Merit.

Wisconsin  returned to the “bombline” on 11 January and, over the ensuing days, delivered heavy gunfire support for the 1st Marine Division and the 1st ROK Corps. As before, her primary targets were command posts, shelters, bunkers, troop concentrations and mortar positions. As before, she stood ready to deliver call-fire support as needed. One such occasion occurred; on 14 January when she shelled enemy troops in the open at the request of the ROK 1st Corps.

Rearming at Sasebo and once more joining TF 77 off the coast of Korea soon thereafter,  Wisconsin  resumed support at the “bombline” on 23 January. Three days later, she shifted once more to the Kojo region, to participate in a coordinated air and gun strike. That same day, the battleship returned to the “bombline” and shelled the command post and communications center for the 15th North Korean Division during call-fire missions for the 1st Marine Division.

Returning to Wonsan at the end of January,  Wisconsin  bombarded enemy guns at Hodo Pando before she was rearmed at Sasebo. The battleship rejoined TF 77 on 2 February and the next day, blasted railway buildings and marshaling yards at Hodo Pando and Kojo before rejoining TF 77. After replenishment at Yokosuka a few days later, she returned to the Kosong area and resumed gunfire support. During that time, she destroyed railway bridges and a small shipyard besides conducting call-fire missions on enemy command posts, bunkers, and personnel shelters, making numerous cuts on enemy trench lines in the process.

On 26 February,  Wisconsin  arrived at Pusan where Vice Admiral Shon, the ROK Chief of Naval Operations; United States Ambassador J.J. Muccio; and Rear Admiral Scott-Montcrief, Royal Navy, Commander, Task Group 95.12, visited the battleship. Departing that South Korean port the following day, Wisconsin  reached Yokosuka on 2 March. A week later, she shifted to Sasebo to prepare to return to Korean waters.

Wisconsin  arrived off Songjin, Korea, on 15 March 1952 and concentrated her gunfire on enemy railway transport. Early that morning, she destroyed a communist troop train trapped outside of a destroyed tunnel. That afternoon, she received the first direct hit in her history, when one of four shells from a communist 155 mm gun battery struck the shield of a starboard 40 mm mount. Although little material damage resulted, three men were injured.  Wisconsin  subsequently destroyed that battery with a 16 inch (406 mm) salvo before continuing her mission. After lending a hand to support once more the 1st Marine Division with her heavy rifles, the battleship returned to Japan on 19 March.

Relieved as flagship of the Seventh Fleet on 1 April by sistership  Iowa  (BB-61),  Wisconsin  departed Yokosuka, bound for the United States. En route home, she touched briefly at Guam, where she took part in the successful test of the Navy’s largest floating dry-dock on 4 April and 5 April, marking the first time that an Iowa-class battleship had ever utilized that type of facility. She continued her homeward-bound voyage, via Pearl Harbor, and arrived at Long Beach, California, on 19 April, she then sailed for Norfolk.

Early in June 1952,   Wisconsin  resumed her role as a training ship, taking midshipmen to Greenock, Scotland; Brest, France; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before returning to Norfolk. She departed Hampton Roads on 25 August and participated in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) exercise, Operation “Mainbrace” which commenced at Greenock and extended as far north as Oslo, Norway. After her return to Norfolk, Wisconsin  underwent an overhaul in the naval shipyard there. She then engaged in local training evolutions until 11 February 1953, when she sailed for Cuban waters for refresher training. She visited Newport, Rhode Island, and New York City before returning to Norfolk late in April.

Following another midshipman’s training cruise to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Port-of-Spain, Trinidad; and Guantanamo Bay,  Wisconsin  put into the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 4 August for a brief overhaul. A little over a month later, upon conclusion of that period of repairs and alterations, the battleship departed Norfolk on 9 September, bound for the Far East.

Sailing via the Panama Canal to Japan,  Wisconsin  relieved  New Jersey  (BB-62) as Seventh Fleet flagship on 12 October. During the months that followed,  Wisconsin  visited the Japanese ports of Kobe, Sasebo, Yokosuka, Otaru, and Nagasaki. She spent Christmas at Hong Kong and was ultimately relieved of flagship duties on 1 April 1954 and returned to the United States soon thereafter, reaching Norfolk, via Long Beach and the Panama Canal, on 4 May 1954.

Entering the Norfolk Naval Shipyard on 11 June,  Wisconsin  underwent a brief overhaul and commenced a midshipman training cruise on 12 July. After revisiting Greenock, Brest, and Guantanamo Bay, the ship returned to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs. Shortly thereafter,  Wisconsin  participated in Atlantic Fleet exercises as flagship for Commander, Second Fleet. Departing Norfolk in January 1955,  Wisconsin  took part in operation “Springboard,” during which time she visited Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Then, upon returning to Norfolk, the battleship conducted another midshipman’s cruise that summer, visiting Edinburgh; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Guantanamo Bay before returning to the United States.

Upon completion of a major overhaul at the New York Naval Shipyard, Wisconsin  headed south for refresher training in the Caribbean Sea, later taking part in another “Springboard” exercise. During that cruise, she again visited Port-au-Prince and added Tampico, Mexico, and Cartagena, Colombia, to her list of ports of call. She returned to Norfolk on the last day of March 1955 for local operations.

Throughout April and into May, Wisconsin  operated locally off the Virginia capes. On 6 May, the battleship collided with the destroyer Eaton  (DDE-510) in a heavy fog; Wisconsin  put into Norfolk with extensive damage to her bow and, one week later, entered drydock at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. A novel expedient speeded her repairs and enabled the ship to carry out her scheduled midshipman training cruise that summer. A 120 ton, 68 foot (21 m) section of the bow of the uncompleted battleship  Kentucky  was transported by barge, in one section, from Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation of Newport News, Virginia, across Hampton Roads to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Working round-the clock,  Wisconsin’s  ship’s force and shipyard personnel completed the operation which grafted the new bow on the old battleship in a mere 16 days. On 28 June 1956, the ship was ready for sea.

Embarking 700 NROTC midshipmen, representing 52 colleges and universities throughout the United States, Wisconsin  departed Norfolk on 9 July, bound for Spain. Reaching Barcelona on 20 July, the battleship next called at Greenock and Guantanamo Bay before returning to Norfolk on the last day of August. That autumn,  Wisconsin participated in Atlantic Fleet exercises off the coast of the Carolinas, returning to port on 8 November 1956. Entering the Norfolk Naval Shipyard a week later, the battleship underwent major repairs that were not finished until 2 January 1957.

After local operations off the Virginia capes from 3 January to 4 January and from 9 January to 11 January, Wisconsin  departed Norfolk on 16 January, reporting to Commander, Fleet Training Group, at Guantanamo Bay. Breaking the two-starred flag of Rear Admiral Henry Crommelin, Commander, Battleship Division 2,  Wisconsin served as Admiral Crommelin’s flagship during the ensuing shore bombardment practices and other exercises held off the isle of Culebra, Puerto Rico, from 2 February to 4 February 1957. Sailing for Norfolk upon completion of the training period, the battleship arrived on 7 February.

The warship conducted a brief period of local operations off Norfolk before she sailed, on 27 March, for the Mediterranean Sea. Reaching Gibraltar on 6 April, she pushed on that day to rendezvous with TF 60 in the Aegean Sea. She then proceeded with that force to Xeros Bay, Turkey, arriving there on 11 April for NATO Exercise “Red Pivot.”

Departing Xeros Bay on 14 April, she arrived at Naples four days later, After a week’s visit during which she was visited by Italian dignitaries Wisconsin  conducted exercises in the eastern Mediterranean. In the course of those operational training evolutions, she rescued a pilot and crewman who survived the crash of a plane from the carrier  Forrestal  (CVA-59). Two days later, Vice Admiral Charles R. Brown, Commander, Sixth Fleet, came on board for an official visit by high-line and departed via the same method that day.  Wisconsin  reached Valencia, Spain, on 10 May and, three days later, entertained prominent civilian and military officials of the city.

Departing Valencia on 17 April,  Wisconsin  reached Norfolk on 27 May. On that day, Rear Admiral L.S. Parks relieved Rear Admiral Crommelin as Commander, Battleship Division 2. Departing Norfolk on 19 June, the battleship, over the ensuing weeks, conducted a midshipman training cruise through the Panama Canal to South American waters. She transited the canal on 26 June; crossed the equator on the following day; and reached Valparaiso on 3 July. Eight days later, the battleship headed back to the Panama Canal and the Atlantic.

After exercises at Guantanamo Bay and off Culebra,  Wisconsin  reached Norfolk on 5 August and conducted local operations that lasted into September. She then participated in NATO exercises which took her across the North Atlantic to the British Isles. She arrived in the River Clyde on 14 September and subsequently visited Brest, France, before returning to Norfolk on 22 October.

Wisconsin’s  days as an active fleet unit were numbered, and she prepared to make her last cruise. On 4 November 1957, she departed Norfolk with a large group of prominent guests on board. Reaching New York City on 6 November, the battleship disembarked her guests and, on 8 November, headed for Bayonne, New Jersey, to commence pre-inactivation overhaul.

Placed out of commission at Bayonne on 8 March 1958,  Wisconsin  joined the “Mothball Fleet” there, leaving the United States Navy without an active battleship for the first time since 1896. Subsequently taken to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard,  Wisconsin  remained there with her sistership  Iowa  into 1981.

Wisconsin  was recommissioned on 22 October 1988,  as part of President Ronald Reagan’s “600-ship Navy” Over the next several months the ship was upgraded with the most advanced weaponry available, including Harpoon and Tomahawk Missile capabilities.

Wisconsin  served in Operation Desert Storm from 15 January to 27 February 1991. This marked the last time that a United States battleship ever actively participated in a foreign war.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the absence of a perceived threat to the United States came drastic cuts in the defense budget, and the high cost of maintaining and operating battleships as part of the United States Navy became uneconomical. As a result, the  Wisconsin  was decommissioned on 30 September 1991 and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 12 January 1995. On 15 October 1996 she was moved to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. On 12 February 1998 she was restored to the Naval Vessel Register. She remains berthed adjacent to Nauticus in Norfolk, Virginia.

Wisconsin  earned five battle stars for her World War II service and one for the Korean War. The ship also received the Navy Unit Commendation for service during the first Gulf War.

PLEASE NOTE:  The City of Norfolk has assumed stewardship of the Battleship  Wisconsin , which is now included in regular Nauticus admission. Admission fees help preserve and maintain the battleship for future generations.

• Korea: November 20 1951 – March 31 1952
• Persian Gulf: January 17 1991 – February 28 1991

The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) is a personal military decoration of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, and which is awarded to those who, in any grade including and below that of a Captain in the Navy (or Colonel in the Marine Corps), have actively participated in ground or surface combat. The Combat Action Ribbon is also awarded to members of the United States Coast Guard when operating under the control of the Navy.

• Persian Gulf: Jan 17 1991 – Feb 28 1991

This commendation is awarded by the Secretary to any ship, aircraft, detachment, or other unit of the United States Navy or Marine Corps which has since December 6 1941 distinguished itself in action against the enemy with outstanding heroism not sufficient to justify award of the Presidential Unit Citation (US). It is also awarded for non-combat service, in support of military operations, which was outstanding when compared to other units or organizations performing similar service.

• World War II

To be awarded the American Campaign Medal, a service member was required to either perform one year of consecutive duty within the continental borders of the United States, or perform 30 consecutive days/60 non-consecutive days of duty outside the borders of the United States but within the American Theater of Operations. The American Theater was defined as the entirety of the United States to include most of the Atlantic Ocean, a portion of Alaska, and a small portion of the Pacific bordering California and Baja California. The eligibility dates of the American Campaign Medal were from December 7, 1941 to March 2, 1946.

• Leyte Operation: December 1944
• Luzon Operation: December 1944 – January 1945
• Iwo Jim Operation: February 1945 – March 1945
• Okinawa Gunto Operation: March 1945 – June 1945
• Third Fleet Operations Against Japan: July 1945 – August 1945

The Asiatic/Pacific Campaign Medal is a service decoration of the Second World War which was awarded to any member of the United States military who served within the Asiatic/Pacific Theater between December 7 1941 and March 2 1946

The WW II Victory Medal commemorates military service during the Second World War and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of the Government of the Philippine Islands, who served on active duty, or as a reservist, between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946.

• Asia: September 2-24, 1945

The Navy Occupation Service Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy which was issued to Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard personnel who participated in the European and Asian occupation forces following the close of the Second World War. The decoration was also bestowed to personnel who performed duty in West Berlin between 1945 and 1990.

• Korea: 1951-1953
• Persian Gulf: 1990

The National Defense Service Medal was awarded for honorable active service for any period between June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954; between January 1, 1961 and August 14, 1974; between August 2, 1990 and November 30, 1995 and between September 11, 2001 and a closing date to be determined.

• November 20, 1951 – March 31, 1952

The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States decoration for participation in the Korean War and is awarded to any U.S. service member who performed duty in the Republic of Korea between June 27, 1950 and June 27, 1954.

Operation Desert ShieldStorm: August, 7 1990 – January 17, 1991

The Southwest Asia Service Medal is awarded for military service between August 2, 1990 and November 30, 1995 for participation during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. To be awarded the decoration a service member must also have served in the geographical land areas of any of the following nations:

• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates
• Desert ShieldDesert Storm

The Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon is granted to any member of the U.S. Navy or United States Marines who are assigned to a Naval Afloat Command and who perform ninety or more consecutive days of a seaward deployment within a one year period.

• December 14, 1944 – January 22, 1945

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation was awarded to any unit of the U.S. military which had served in the defense or liberation of the Philippine Islands. The decoration was again bestowed to U.S. military units for relief efforts during several natural disasters which occurred in the Philippines between 1970 and 1972.

• November, 22 1951 – March, 31 1952

The Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is issued by the government of South Korea to both Korean military and foreign units. The last major issuance of the decoration was during the Korean War when the decoration was bestowed to several U.S., UK and Commonwealth military units. By order of the Korean government, the award was also retroactively authorized to every unit of the United States Army which had deployed to Korea between 1950 and 1954.

• World War II: December, 14 1944 – January 1945

The Philippine Liberation Medal was presented to any service member, of both Philippine and allied militaries, who participated in the liberation of the Philippine Islands between the dates of October 17, 1944 and September 2, 1945.

• Korea: November, 20 1951 – March, 31 1952

The United Nations Service Medal is awarded to any military service member of an Armed Force allied with South Korea who participated in the defense of Korea from North Korean aggression between the dates of June 27, 1950 and July 27, 1954.

• Desert Storm: January, 17 1991 – February, 28 1991

The Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) is awarded to members of the Coalition Forces who participated in Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait between the dates of January 17, 1991 and February 28, 1991.

• Kuwait: Desert Shield/Desert Storm

Awarded to members of the Military Coalition who served in support of Operation Desert Shield or Desert Storm in one or more of the following areas between August 2, 1990 and August, 31 1993: Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, that portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of 10º North latitude and west of 68º East longitude, as well as the total land areas of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

• November, 20 1951

The Republic of Korea War Service Medal was awarded to U.S. military personnel who:

• Served between the outbreak of hostilities, June 25, 1950, and the date the armistice was signed, July 27, 1953;
• Were on permanent assignment or on temporary duty for 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days; and
• Performed their duty within the territorial limits of Korea, in the waters immediately adjacent thereto or in aerial flight over Korea participating in actual combat operations or in support of combat operations.

Privacy Overview

Visit the Battleship USS Wisconsin (BB 64) in Norfolk, Virginia

As you look at a battleship, you immediately sense its power. Huge guns, a sleek profile and a superstructure bristling with equipment signal that this ship means business. Battleships dominated the seas from World War I to World War II and served with distinction in the US Navy all the way through Operation Desert Storm. USS Wisconsin (BB 64), the third of four Iowa-class battleships to be built, now rests in honorable deactivated status in Norfolk, Virginia , as part of the Nauticus ​museum complex.

History of the Battleship USS Wisconsin

The battleship USS Wisconsin was commissioned in 1944, three years after her keel was laid in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . USS Wisconsin supported operations in the Pacific Theater during World War II , earning five battle stars. The battleship was decommissioned in 1948. "Wisky" was brought back to life in 1951 to serve in the Korean War , earning another battle star during that conflict. Decommissioned in 1958, USS Wisconsin spent almost 30 years in mothballs before being refitted and recommissioned in 1988. USS Wisconsin served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, maintaining a significant presence in the Persian Gulf, providing critical support to the forces dedicated to liberating Kuwait and earning a Navy Unit Commendation. The mighty battleship proved too expensive to maintain in the face of post-Gulf War budget cuts, and USS Wisconsin was decommissioned once again in 1991.

After spending several years in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, the battleship moved to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in 1996 and to Nauticus shortly thereafter, thanks in large part to the veterans who served on board and the people who developed the concept of a world-class maritime museum in Norfolk. "Wisky" is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is owned and operated by the city of Norfolk, Virginia. 

Touring the Battleship USS Wisconsin at Nauticus

To see the battleship, you'll need to head to Nauticus on Waterside Drive in Norfolk, Virginia. This maritime museum includes hands-on exhibits covering the period from the late 1800's to the present day. You can design a ship, help uncover the remains of the Civil War-era USS Monitor with a robot arm and get acquainted with the sea creatures of the Hampton Roads area. Special exhibits focusing on maritime themes and battleships add to the Nauticus experience.

You can take a self-guided tour of two levels of the ship, including the main deck, officers' wardroom, galley, mess deck, chapel and sailors' berthing. Docents are available to answer any questions you might have about the battleship.

If you want to see the ship's bridges, the Captain's stateroom, Admiral's stateroom and Combat Engagement Center, you will need to buy a Gold ticket, which includes a guided tour of these spaces. Your tour will take you up and down ladders (narrow metal stairways) and into cramped areas of the ship; there is no elevator. If you are physically able to take this tour, you will find it quite interesting, as you will be seeing the places where combat decisions were made during the heat of battle.

Special guided tours, which cost extra, are offered three times daily. One of these tours takes you to the spaces included in the Gold ticket. The other takes you to the engine room.

USS Wisconsin's massive superstructure and 16-inch guns, which fired shells weighing 2,700 pounds each, dominate the main deck. The gun turrets could rotate so that all nine guns could fire a full broadside, with a range of up to 23 nautical miles.

As you stand on this meticulously-maintained teak deck, you'll begin to realize that this 887-foot ship was home to nearly two thousand sailors, all trained to work together to achieve a common goal. Sometimes away from home for months at a time, the sailors had "steel beach picnics" on the main deck's helicopter landing area, competed in athletic contests against other ships' crews and drilled, prepared and practiced for engagement with hostile forces. Today, officers and sailors who served aboard Wisky hold reunions in Norfolk every two years so they can share memories, swap sea stories and see their beloved battleship once again.

Tips for Visiting Nauticus and the Battleship Wisconsin

• Limited handicapped parking is available; call ahead for information. All other visitors will need to park in one of the public (pay) garages near the Nauticus complex. Tip: If a cruise ship is in port, no handicapped parking will be available.
• The museum is wheelchair-accessible, as is the main deck of USS Wisconsin. There are two elevators with second and third floor access.
• The Ship Experience Access Room (SEAR) was developed for visitors that want to experience the Battleship, but are unable to physically take the tour.
• The museum has a few wheelchairs available for visitor use on a first-come, first-served basis. Assisted listening devices are also available.
• Nauticus' Dockside Café serves burgers, sandwiches, wraps, flatbreads and Caribbean bowls. It is temporarily closed for renovations.
• The museum's Banana Pier Gift Shop sells souvenirs, books, apparel, toys and more.

Nauticus Address and Contact Information

One Waterside Drive

Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 664-1000

Nauticus' Battleship Wisconsin Website

Nauticus is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Hours may be limited on other holidays. Call the museum for more information.

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Red oak victory.

Arrive curious. Leave in awe. DONATE

The Last Survivor

SS Red Oak Victory is the last surviving vessel of 747 ships of all types built at the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. She continues to serve today as a museum ship and as a monument to the thousands of men and women who worked hard to build these ships in a time of national crisis.

The SS Red Oak Victory is also one of the last surviving World War II Victory ships. These ships, along with their cousins the Liberty ships, were built on an emergency basis to carry vital supplies and troops to all theaters of war. The Victory ships remain today as a symbol of the national resolve and industrial might that won the Second World War.

Watch the calendar section of our website and our Facebook page for events and news.

The San Francisco Bay Area is unique in the world in terms of the number and variety of World War II historic sites and attractions.  Recognizing this unique feature of the area, several of the World War II related attractions have come together to form the World War II Homefront Alliance.  Members encourage visitors to see and support all of these sites.  Curent members: – SS Red Oak Victory – Rosie the Riveter Trust – Rosie the Riveter World War II Homefront Historic Park – Spirit of 45 Bay Area – USS Hornet  Air, Sea, & Space Museum – USS Potomac – USS Lucid – Alameda Naval Aviation Museum

ADMISSION: Red Oak Victory is open to the public every Sunday 10am to 3pm. (10am to 4pm during the summer.)  

Our tour options are as follows:

Admission and Self-Guided Tour $10 Docent-Led Tours: – Entire Ship Except Engine Room $15 – Entire Ship Plus Engine Room $20 (Minimum 12 years old)

ADDRESS : 1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 5 Richmond, CA 94804 [email protected]

Please note : Many GPS systems and online map services do not have our address location shown correctly. Go to our Directions page for accurate information.

What3words:  blocks.light.yarn

If you want to keep up-to-date on all events on the ship, click here to join our mailing list.

Winter Movie Schedule Released!

Visit the Calendar section for a list of dates and films to be shown.  Our next movie is “Across the Pacific, March 21, at 7 p.m.

Pancake Breakfast & Dance Schedule Released!

Visit the Calendar section to see the 2024 Pancake Breakfast and Dance schedule.  Our next event is the Spring Swing Dance on April 20.  For tickets, click here.

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Battleships of WWII at Pearl Harbor Tour departing Waikiki Oahu Hotels

Experience a riveting historical Pearl Harbor tour that brings you face to face with the beginning and end of WWII with visits to two famous battleships: the USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri Memorial.

Tour Highlights

• Pearl Harbor Historic Sites
• View “The Black Tears” of the Arizona
• USS Missouri – “The Mighty Mo”
• Stand on the Surrender Deck where WWII ended
• USS Oklahoma Memorial
• World War II museums and exhibits
• Battleship Row and U.S. Pacific Fleet
• Punchbowl National Cemetery
• Historic Downtown Honolulu
• Iolani Palace
• Kawaiahao Church
• Aliiolani Hale – As Seen on Hawaii Five-O
• King Kamehameha the Great Statue

This tour is also available Departing from:

Maui ,   Hawaii Big Island  and  Kauai .  Includes all Admission, r/t Ground Transportation and Airfare. 

• Description

About Your Tour

Join us on a powerful historic journey starting with the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 that catapulted the U.S. into World War II and culminating with the September 2, 1945 surrender that ended the global conflict. Book your tickets now and explore the Pearl Harbor Battleship tour in Oahu.

En-route to Pearl Harbor, our expert guide will recount the pivotal events leading up to the early morning aerial bombardment. Upon arrival at Pearl Harbor, you’ll begin with the USS Arizona Memorial Experience. Learn about the 1,177 seamen who tragically perished when the USS Arizona was bombed and sank within minutes in the 23-minute documentary featuring original archival footage. Imagine what that morning was like for these sailors as you cross the harbor to the Memorial on a Navy vessel. As you step aboard the USS Arizona Memorial, you’ll notice an air of quiet contemplation and honor.  You are standing over the sunken battleship, the final resting place of these fallen heroes. Pay your respects to these brave seamen in the Shrine Room where their names and ranks are etched in marble. And look into the harbor where oil drops – “Black Tears of the Arizona” – continue to rise to the surface from the hull after nearly 80 years.

Our tour next proceeds to the USS Missouri – “The Mighty Mo.” Stand on the deck where the Japanese formally surrendered on September 2, 1945 while the ship was in Tokyo Bay, Japan, bringing WWII to its final close. Be amazed by the massive guns capable of firing shells over 20 miles and learn the story of the dent caused by a crashing Kamikaze pilot.

After your Pearl Harbor visit, we continue to Historic Downtown Honolulu. Your guide will reveal fascinating stories about Hawaii’s royal family while showing you historic architectural landmarks associated with the islands’ time as a kingdom: Iolani Palace, Kawaiahao Church, King Kamehameha the Great Statue, and Aliiolani Hale.

Few experiences can compare to the Battleships of World War II at Pearl Harbor. Make this part of your Oahu vacation. Book your tour today and make sure  to add battleship in Pearl Harbor in your ‘Must Visit List’.

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Battleship Cove is open 7 days a week 9am-5pm.  Tickets may be purchased online or at the museum. 

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Battleship Cove: Who We Are

The home to five National Historic Landmarks and Official Veteran Memorials on both state and national levels, Battleship Cove has been providing the preservation of both the military heritage of the New England region and that of the United States since 1965.

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Victory in the pacific tour.

This unique, inaugural journey from The National WWII Museum takes guests to the sites of the Pacific war, from Pearl Harbor to Iwo Jima and more. Travel luxuriously while experiencing history up close, with help from renowned historians and eyewitnesses to World War II.

Introducing The National WWII Museum’s Tour of the Pacific Theater. Take a journey that centers around the story of the Americans who forged a road to Tokyo through courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice, and ended the war, at last. Retrace the grueling trail that led from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, explore the evolving strategy for fighting relentless Japanese forces in Asia and the Pacific, and examine cultural differences, logistical challenges, and the staggering range of extreme conditions that confronted American military forces.

Steeped in WWII history, the present-day serenity found at these stunning locations is a stark contrast to ferocious fighting that once took place here. Breathtaking landscapes with secluded volcanic mountain peaks, clear waters surrounding coral fringed islets, and grottos filled with sea turtles—discover the Marianas with The National WWII Museum Educational Travel program and revel in the hidden treasures of these Pacific islands. From the blazing white shorelines of Saipan to the black volcanic ash on Iwo Jima’s landing beaches, walk in the everlasting footsteps of the servicemen who gave their all for victory.

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On the Road with The National WWII Museum

There is nothing like seeing the sights of World War II firsthand.

Experience the Victory

Travel to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to explore, remember, and reflect on World War II through exclusive access to the Museum’s campus.

Victory in the Pacific: Battle of Guadalcanal

With its position in the South Pacific, Guadalcanal was an ideal location for a Japanese airfield that could threaten vital US sea lanes to Australia.

Megastructures: Forced Labor and Massive Works in the Third Reich

Join Dr. Alexandra Richie on a poignant tour of Poland to discover the remnants of the vast construction projects initiated by the Third Reich and hear the stories of those who were forced to build them.

Victory in the Pacific: Japan & Okinawa

The National WWII Museum’s newest tour brings you to Japan, where World War II ultimately ended. Beginning in Tokyo, guests will investigate the Japanese perspective on the end of the war at the Yushukan War Memorial Museum and also explore the Japanese civilian experience at the National Showa Memorial Museum.

Italy: 1944

Join The National WWII Museum Educational Travel Program on this Italian journey of “Mud, Mountains, and Mules,” with all of its sacrifices, heartbreak, and triumphs. With exquisite hotels in Rome and Florence and expert battlefield guides throughout, you will experience the best that Italy has to offer.

World War II in the Philippines

This fascinating journey will begin in the lush province of Bataan, where tour participants will walk the first kilometer of the Death March and visit the remains of the prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan, which was liberated by American Army Rangers and Filipino Scouts on the eve of the Battle of Manila.

Philosophy and War: World War II in the Balkans

Aboard the iconic Sea Cloud Featuring Robert M. Citino, PhD

The all-new land-and-cruise tour Philosophy and War: World War II in the Balkans begins with two nights in Athens to explore the German occupation of Greece and the civil war that followed.

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WWII Liberty Ship and Submarine Pampanito

Exploring the ss jeremiah o’brien and uss pampanito: a journey through history.

When you visit San Francisco and explore its rich maritime heritage, two remarkable vessels stand out as living testaments to history – the  SS Jeremiah O’Brien  and the  USS Pampanito . These World War II veterans offer a captivating journey back in time, allowing you to experience the stories of brave sailors and the vital role these ships played during the war. Here’s everything you need to know about these historic vessels and why you should make them a must-visit during your stay in the Bay Area.

SS Jeremiah O’Brien: A Living Museum of WWII

Location:  Pier 35, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

• Historical Significance:  The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is one of only two fully functional Liberty ships remaining from the 2,710 constructed during World War II. It’s the last unaltered Liberty ship, offering a unique opportunity to step back in time to the days of high seas and enemy threats.
• National Landmark:  This living museum is on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark, ensuring its preservation for generations to come.
• Immersive Experience:  Visitors can explore virtually the entire ship, from the engine room to the flying bridge. The ship’s boilers are even “lit off,” and on special Steaming Weekends, the 2500-horsepower main engine operates, providing an up-close look at its machinery in action.
• Restoring History:  The National Liberty Ship Memorial’s mission is to restore, promote, and operate the SS Jeremiah O’Brien as a living museum. By visiting, you contribute to preserving the legacy of the men and women who built and sailed these vital World War II vessels.

History of the O’Brien

• The Beginning:  The SS Jeremiah O’Brien was launched in June 1943 at the New England Shipbuilding Corporation in South Portland, Maine. It served in various voyages during World War II, including the D-Day invasion, before being laid up in Suisun Bay after the war.
• Out of the Mothball Fleet:  In the 1970s, Rear Adm. Thomas J. Patterson saved the O’Brien from scrapyard oblivion. Skilled volunteers removed layers of preservatives, and the ship made a triumphant return to San Francisco after restoration.
• Return to Normandy:  In 1994, the O’Brien embarked on an epic journey, retracing its history to England and France for the 50th Anniversary of Operation Overlord. It was reviewed by the Queen of England and visited by the U.S. President, symbolizing the enduring legacy of Liberty ships.

Visit Details

• The SS Jeremiah O’Brien is fully seaworthy and open to the public, moored at Pier 35, The Embarcadero.
• Steaming Weekends, usually the third Saturday and Sunday of each month, offer a chance to see the engine plant in action.
• Check the calendar for San Francisco Bay cruises and other events.
• The ship relies on volunteers and donations for its operations.
• Contact: +1 415-544-0100,  [email protected] ,  ssjeremiahobrien.org

USS Pampanito: A Silent Service Memorial

Location:  Historic Pier 45, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

• Meticulous Restoration:  The USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a beautifully restored World War II diesel-electric powered submarine. It serves as both a museum and a memorial to those who served in the “silent service.”
• Heroic Record:  Built in just nine months in 1943 at the Navy Yard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Pampanito made six patrols in the Pacific, sinking six enemy ships and damaging four others.
• Educational Experience:  Pampanito offers self-guided audio tours and, by arrangement, docent-led tours. It’s a unique opportunity to step inside a WWII submarine and learn about its crucial role.

History of the Pampanito

• WWII Service:  Pampanito conducted patrols off Kyūshū, Shikoku, and Honshū, earning six battle stars for its service during World War II.
• Post-War Life:  After the war, Pampanito underwent various assignments and was eventually decommissioned in 1971. It was turned into a memorial and museum in 1975.
• National Historic Landmark:  In 1986, Pampanito was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark.
• Pampanito is open daily to the public at Historic Pier 45.
• Visitors can enjoy self-guided audio tours and, with prior arrangements, docent-led tours.
• The USS Pampanito Amateur Radio Club operates from the submarine, bringing the radio room to life on selected Saturdays.
• The ship offers educational programs and even the opportunity for organized groups to spend the night in the submarine.
• Pampanito has undergone several maintenance dry dockings and still boasts working parts, including a torpedo tube and periscope.
• Contact:  maritime.org/uss-pampanito

When you visit the SS Jeremiah O’Brien and USS Pampanito, you’re not just exploring historic vessels; you’re stepping into the past and connecting with the incredible stories of those who served during World War II. These living museums in the heart of San Francisco are a testament to the courage and determination of the men and women who built, sailed, and defended these vital ships. Don’t miss the chance to experience this piece of history during your visit to the Bay Area.

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Monday: 12 PM – 5 PM

Tuesday – Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM

Early Closure:

April 17th: 10am-3pm

• Hours and Admission
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Explore the Entire Ship

• Cavernous Three-level Cargo Holds
• Radio and Gyro Rooms
• Steering Stations
• Flying Bridge
• Signaling Equipment
• Crew Cabins
• Captain’s Quarters
• Cargo Equipment

Call our local Hawaii specialists for any questions about our island tours and activities

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• Battleship USS Missouri (7)

Pearl Harbor Battleship Missouri General Admission & Self-Guided Tour

Available Daily

Pick-up not available, not accessible, what to expect, general admission: self-guided tour.

Price per Adult :

USS Missouri Captain's Quarters Exclusive Guided Tour

Uss missouri chief engineer's exclusive guided tour.

Transportation add-ons

Important activity information, restrictions.

• Due to enhanced security measures, the Navy has increased its security checks to enter the WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. All guests must have a legal form of identification to enter the USS Battleship Missouri, the Pacific Aviation Museum and the USS Bowfin Submarine.
• The WWII Valor of the Pacific has implemented a "No Bags Allowed" Policy. No purses, handbags, fanny packs, backpacks, camera bags, luggage, diaper bags and other items that offer concealment are not allowed in the Visitor Center or the Memorial. Strollers with pockets and compartments must be empty before being allowed in. Personal cameras area allowed.
• Children of all ages can participate in this activity.
• Wheelchair Accessibility: Only the top deck of the USS Missouri is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs cannot access the interior of the ship.

Other requirements

• Enter the Pearl Harbor national Memorial (USS Arizona Memorial) and proceed to board the motor coach shuttle, located in front of the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, for transfer over Ford Island Bridge to Missouri Pier, you need to present your voucher to ticket office on the Missouri Pier.

Required items to bring & attire

• A valid government-issued photo ID
• QR Code Ticket that will be emailed to you after the booking is confirmed.
• Shirt and shoes are required, and no swimsuits are allowed to be worn.

Additional notes

• The activity schedule is subject to change or cancellation due to weather or traffic conditions.
• This activity operates regardless of weather.
• The activity provider does not assume any responsibility for your valuables and/or personal belongings.
• The WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1).
• Admission to the USS Arizona Memorial is free. Free tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis for timed programs to the memorial. Timed programs include a 23-minute documentary film about the attack on Pearl Harbor and the boat trip to the USS Arizona Memorial. Programs begin at 7:45 a.m. The last program each day begins at 3:00 p.m. The wait time for a program may be as long as two hours depending on the season.
• For a small convenience fee, you can reserve tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial on the U.S. Parks & Recreation website.

Check-in at the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center

Head to the USS Missouri and enjoy a self-guided tour of the ship before or after your guided Captain's Tour. Meet your guide and see areas that once hosted historic icons and dignitaries in the Captain's cabin, Combat Engagement Center with amazing views, and step inside a massive gun turret.

Pick-up/Check-in Time & Location

Drop-off/Check-out Time & Location

Start time :

• Ticket Counter
• This activity is not wheelchair accessible.
• Children 8 years old and above can participate in this activity.
• Participants must be able to comfortably climb and descend multiple ladders during this tour.
• You are welcome to check-in early and explore the USS Missouri before your guided tour, or stay after your guided tour is complete.

Head to the USS Missouri and enjoy a self-guided tour of the ship before or after your guided Chief Engineer's Tour. Meet your guide and learn about the role of the Chief Engineer and the inner workings of USS Missouri with access to the Engine Room, Boiler Room, and the weapon's plotting room.

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Overall rating

We had the most incredible time touring the Mighty Mo!! Really incredible to stand on a battleship where WWII came to an end. Saffron, our tour guide, was absolutely fantastic!!! She was so informative, interesting and k ... ind. Could listen to her all day! We also met Alvin in the Aviation Museum and really enjoyed listening to him! We had toured the Arizona on our last visit to Hawaii and very much enjoyed that tour. Pearl Harbor is well organized and well worth the visit.

Arizona comes with the tour, which is half the troubles on the park. Great and easy experience!

Pearl Harbor visit

Surreal experience seeing the ship WW2 ended on. Having a guide made it very pleasant.

Activity Provider USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.

Activity provider, payment / cancellation policy.

• Credit card payment

• Any cancellations made after 15:00 local time, 2 business days prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 100% of the total amount.
• Any changes made after 15:00 local time, 2 business days prior to the activity will be subject to a charge of 100% of the total amount. This includes, but not limited to, change of the activity date/time, package, the number of participants, etc.

Payment Methods

Cancellation Policy

Change policy, how do i get to the uss battleship missouri since it's on ford island.

After you check-in at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, you will be directed to the USS Missouri Memorial's security tent where you will catch a shuttle to the Battleship Missouri for your tour.

Am I allowed to take pictures or video of on the tour?

Of course! Please bring your camera.

How far in advance should I book this activity?

We recommend booking at least 2-3 days in advance. If you have very specific schedule requirements and are not flexible, please book sooner. Last minute availability is often possible, but limited.

Are there food and drinks available to purchase in the area?

Food and drinks are available to purchase from Slider's Grill at the Battleship USS Missouri Memorial. The menu is subject to change, but usually includes Hamburgers (with Veggie Burger options), Hot Dogs, Chicken Nuggets, Cold Sandwiches and Plate Lunches (such as Loco Moco, Teriyaki Chicken and Pork Curry). Bottled water and fountain drinks are also available. Menu items range in price from approximately $6 to $12. A shave ice stand can also be found nearby.

Please visit VELTRA Support page to send an inquiry about this activity.

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Battleship uss missouri other tours and activities, royal star pearl harbor guided tour with arizona memorial & battleship missouri, passport to pearl harbor ticket - official one-day admission & self-guided tour, pearl harbor guided arizona memorial & uss battleship missouri tour by e noa, the complete guided pearl harbor tour with admission, lunch & transportation, pearl harbor guided tour with lunch - arizona memorial & battleship missouri, pearl harbor battleship missouri & arizona memorial tour - roberts hawaii, 日本語ガイド＆オムレツ昼食付き, eur 152.00~.

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Watch CBS News

Log book from WWII ship that sank off Florida mysteriously ends up in piece of furniture in Massachusetts

By Emily Mae Czachor

Updated on: April 17, 2024 / 11:23 AM EDT / CBS News

A notebook discovered inside a piece of furniture in Massachusetts turned out to be a written log of one U.S. Navy destroyer's trips to Europe and back during World War II, officials said. The book appears in good physical condition in images shared online, despite being linked to the USS Amesbury, which eventually sunk off the coast of Florida.

The found artifact contains a hardcover jacket binding pages of lined paper. A single page, photographed and shared by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, shows a travel record for the warship between June 13, 1944 and May 31, 1945. Within that timeframe, the destroyer apparently voyaged over the Atlantic Ocean several times, stopping in New York, Key West, Philadelphia and Annapolis in the U.S., as well as Panama and the United Kingdom.

"A small, military-green notebook containing information about the USS Amesbury was discovered by Brenda O'Keefe of Massachusetts in a piece of furniture," the marine sanctuary said in a Facebook post that included images of the log and cover. 

"While the book's author is unknown, it describes many of the ship's activities and travels during World War II," the post continued. "The Amesbury, known locally as Alexander's Wreck, was a U.S. Naval destroyer escort that was being towed to deep water for an artificial reef, when it grounded and broke up in a storm before it could be refloated."

A small, military-green notebook containing information about the USS Amesbury was discovered by Brenda O’Keefe of... Posted by NOAA Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary on  Tuesday, April 9, 2024

One notable entry in the book, dated April 7, 1945 says: "War ended with Germany" -- although Germany did not officially surrender until May 7 of that year.

CBS News contacted the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which administers the Florida Keys marine sanctuary, for more information but did not receive an immediate response.

The Amesbury was introduced as a World War II convoy escort in 1943, a role that it continued to serve through the end of the war as it completed four round-trip voyages between the U.S. and the United Kingdom,  according to the Naval History and Heritage Command. Overseas, the destroyer made stops in Londonderry and Lishally, in Ireland, as well as Greenock in Scotland. The ship was eventually awarded a battle star for its services off of Normandy beach in France.

Naval officials decommissioned the warship and placed it in reserve in 1946, according to the organization Dive Center Key West . The 300-foot former destroyer ran aground and broke apart as it was being pulled farther out to sea to form an artificial reef, and now sits along the ocean floor about five miles from Key West. Known as Alexander's Wreck, water levels at the site are relatively shallow, at 25 feet, and the wreck itself has become a popular spot for divers.

• Massachusetts
• World War II

Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She covers breaking news, often focusing on crime and extreme weather. Emily Mae has previously written for outlets including the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.

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