News... Battleship Missouri to Close during Pearl Harbor Drydock

As early as this fall, USS Missouri (BB-63) will become one of the largest ships to ever be drydocked while it undergoes renovations at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in O'ahu, Hawaii.

Soon after the memorial's annual Sept. 2 ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the end of WWII, Missouri is scheduled to depart from its home for the last decade, Pier Foxtrot-5. It will be towed just over two miles across Pearl Harbor to Drydock No. 4.

The battleship Missouri (“Mighty Mo”) was the site of Japan’s surrender that ended WWII and was the last battleship to be built by the United States. In the Pacific Theater of WWII, she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and the Missouri still has a dent on its starboard side from a low-flying kamikaze plane that crashed into it on April 11, 1945.

The 887-foot battleship was last drydocked in 1992, but present work will include sand blasting, hull inspection and any needed repairs, followed by preservation treatment. Pre-drydock cleaning, inspection and preparation will begin while the memorial remains open to visitors.

The battleship will be closed to the public during the two- to three-month drydocking period. The Missouri's onboard bathroom facilities will be refurbished for visitor use, and the fantail will be equipped with a new tent for ceremonies and events. 

The Battleship Missouri Memorial's standard operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. General admission is $16 per adult and $8 per child 4-12. All military in uniform are granted free admission at the gate. Guided tours are recommended and begin at just a $7 additional charge. For visitor information or to reserve a tour, visit the battleship's website or call toll-free at 1-877-MIGHTYMO (1-877-644-4896).

For FTF's recommendations about where to stay and go in O'ahu, see our articles on O'ahu, Hawaii Activities and Attractions and O'ahu, Hawaii Hotels and Resorts.