Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, is the site of the December 7, 1941 surprise attack that drew the United States into World War II — and today it is one of the most visited historic sites in the country, welcoming more than two million people a year. Whether you are planning a trip or just want to understand what happened, these 25 essential facts about Pearl Harbor will give you the history, the memorials, and the practical know-how you need before you visit.
Key Highlights
- The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at about 7:55 a.m. on Sunday, December 7, 1941, lasted roughly two hours in two waves, and killed 2,403 Americans.
- The USS Arizona lost 1,177 of her 1,512 crewmen when her forward magazine exploded; her wreck still rests on the harbor floor and leaks a small amount of oil every day.
- The USS Arizona Memorial is free to visit, but you must reserve a timed ticket through recreation.gov ($1 per-ticket reservation fee) — walk-up slots are limited and popular dates sell out.
- Of the eight battleships hit that morning, six were repaired and returned to service; only the Arizona and the Oklahoma were total losses.
- Plan at least two to three hours for the Arizona Memorial program and a full day if you also want to tour the Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfin, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
The Attack: What Happened on December 7, 1941
1. The date that “will live in infamy”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous line — “a date which will live in infamy” — refers to Sunday, December 7, 1941, when the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a surprise aerial assault on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The attack shocked the nation and led the United States to declare war on Japan the very next day, entering World War II.
2. The first bombs fell at about 7:55 a.m. Hawaiian time
The attack began at approximately 7:55 a.m. on a quiet Sunday morning, catching the base almost completely off guard. Many sailors were still in their bunks or heading to breakfast when the first wave of Japanese planes roared over the harbor. If you want the full story of how the morning unfolded, read our account of the bombing of Pearl Harbor that changed history.
3. But the first shot was fired an hour earlier
More than an hour before the aerial attack began, the American destroyer USS Ward spotted a Japanese midget submarine trying to sneak into the harbor and fired on it at about 6:45 a.m. — making that the first U.S. shot of the war in the Pacific. Japan sent five of these two-man midget submarines to Pearl Harbor, and one of their crews became a grim footnote: Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki washed ashore and became the first Japanese prisoner of war of World War II. The full, lesser-known story is told in our submarine-perspective piece on the attack.
4. The attack came in two waves and lasted about two hours
Japan launched 353 aircraft in two waves, just under two hours apart. The first wave hit the battleships and airfields; the second wave finished off what was left. In roughly 110 minutes, the damage was staggering.
5. 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 wounded
Per the National Park Service, 2,403 Americans — 2,335 service members and 68 civilians — lost their lives that morning, and another 1,178 were wounded. It remains one of the deadliest attacks on American soil in history. We take a closer look at who they were in our article on how many people died at Pearl Harbor.
6. Japan’s own losses were comparatively small
Japan lost 64 men, 29 aircraft, and all five midget submarines. One serviceman, Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured — the first Japanese POW of the war.
7. Eight battleships were hit — but most survived
All eight battleships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were attacked, and 21 ships in total were sunk or badly damaged. Yet only the Arizona and the Oklahoma were total losses: six of the eight battleships were eventually raised, repaired, and returned to service.
8. The aircraft carriers were gone — a stroke of luck
The Pacific Fleet’s three aircraft carriers happened to be at sea that morning, and the Japanese never found them. Those surviving carriers went on to become the backbone of the American counteroffensive, including the pivotal Battle of Midway six months later.
9. Nearly 350 American aircraft were destroyed or damaged
Japanese planes strafed and bombed airfields at Hickam Field, Wheeler Field, and Ford Island as well as the harbor. About 188 American aircraft were destroyed and another 159 damaged, many of them sitting wingtip-to-wingtip in neat rows — parked that way to guard against sabotage, which made them easy targets from the air.
Facts About the USS Arizona
10. A single bomb doomed the Arizona
The USS Arizona was struck by an armor-piercing bomb that penetrated to her forward ammunition magazine, triggering a cataclysmic explosion. The ship sank in roughly nine minutes, taking 1,177 of her 1,512 crewmen with her — the greatest single-ship loss of life of the attack. Only about 333 men aboard survived.
11. The ship’s entire band was lost
Twenty-one members of the USS Arizona’s Navy band were preparing to play for the morning flag-raising ceremony when the attack began. They were among the 1,177 who never made it home — a detail that still stops visitors cold in the memorial’s shrine room.
12. The Arizona still leaks oil — the “black tears”
The Arizona rests where she sank, in about 40 feet of water, and her fuel tanks still seep roughly nine quarts of oil a day into the harbor. Visitors and survivors call them the “tears of the Arizona.” Because the wreck is an active military burial site, the leak is left undisturbed.
13. More than 900 crewmen remain entombed in the wreck
The Navy chose to leave the Arizona — and her crew — where she fell. More than 900 sailors and Marines are still inside the ship, making the wreck itself their final resting place.
14. Survivors can be laid to rest with their shipmates
In a moving tradition, USS Arizona survivors who passed away in later years could choose to be interred in the wreck by Navy divers, after a full military funeral. More than 30 survivors have been returned to their ship this way.
15. The memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1962
The graceful white, open-air memorial that spans the sunken battleship was dedicated on May 30, 1962, and the National Park Service has managed it since 1980. It touches neither the wreck nor the water — it rests above the ship on pilings, accessible only by Navy-operated shuttle boat. Learn more about the experience in our guide to the USS Arizona Memorial.
Facts About the Other Ships and Sites
16. The USS Oklahoma lost 429 men when she capsized
The battleship USS Oklahoma rolled over after being hit by multiple torpedoes, trapping hundreds of sailors inside. She was later raised but was lost while being towed — one of only two battleships never to return to service. A memorial on Ford Island honors the 429 men who died aboard her.
17. The USS Utah is still there, too
Often overlooked, the former battleship-turned-target-ship USS Utah also lies where she sank, with 58 of her crew still aboard. A small memorial on Ford Island marks the spot.
18. Japan formally surrendered on the USS Missouri
The story that began at Pearl Harbor ended aboard the battleship USS Missouri, where Japan signed the formal instrument of surrender on September 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay. The “Mighty Mo” is now permanently docked at Ford Island, bookending the war — it all started with the Arizona and ended with the Missouri. Our Battleship Missouri Memorial guide covers what to expect on deck.
19. The USS Bowfin was launched one year after the attack
The WWII submarine USS Bowfin, now the centerpiece of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, was launched on December 7, 1942 — exactly one year after Pearl Harbor. She went on to sink 44 enemy ships, earning her the nickname “the Pearl Harbor Avenger.”
20. Ford Island was the heart of the air attack
Ford Island, at the center of the harbor, was the Navy’s main air station in 1941 and a prime target that morning. Today it is home to the Battleship Missouri, the Oklahoma and Utah memorials, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, which houses WWII aircraft in original wartime hangars — some still bearing bullet holes from December 7.
Facts About Pearl Harbor Before and After the War
21. Pearl Harbor became a U.S. naval station in the 1890s
Following the annexation of Hawaii, Pearl Harbor became a U.S. Navy coaling station in 1899, and the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard was established in 1908. Its deepwater harbor can handle the largest vessels in the fleet.
22. It is still an active Navy base — and home of the Pacific Fleet
Pearl Harbor is not just a memorial; it remains a working U.S. Navy installation and the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. That is why parts of the harbor are restricted and why the Arizona Memorial program runs on Navy shuttle boats with military-style security.
23. A former enemy is now one of its most respectful audiences
Japan is today one of America’s closest allies, and Japanese visitors are among the most numerous and reverent at the memorial. Many come specifically to pay respects to the fallen on both sides — a quiet testament to how far two nations have come.
Visiting Pearl Harbor: What to Know Before You Go
24. The Arizona Memorial is free — but tickets are timed and limited
Admission to Pearl Harbor National Memorial, including the visitor center and its museums, is free. To go out to the USS Arizona Memorial itself, you need a timed ticket reserved through recreation.gov, which carries a $1 per-ticket reservation fee. Tickets are released in advance and sell out fast, so book ahead — a small number of same-day standby slots are usually available, but don’t count on them. For a step-by-step trip plan, see our ultimate guide to visiting Pearl Harbor.
25. The other historic sites charge admission
While the memorial is free, the Battleship Missouri, the USS Bowfin and Submarine Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are privately operated and charge their own admission fees. Combination “Passport to Pearl Harbor” packages can save money if you plan to see them all.
26. Leave the bags behind
Bags, backpacks, and purses are not allowed inside the memorial — security is airport-style. Bring only essentials in a small clear bag, or use the paid bag-storage facility near the entrance. Cameras are welcome, and strollers are allowed only as far as the Arizona Memorial’s pre-boarding area.
27. Plan your time: at least three hours, ideally a full day
The USS Arizona Memorial program — an orientation film plus the boat ride out and back — takes about 45 minutes to an hour, but with the visitor center museums you should budget at least two to three hours. Seeing all four major sites (Arizona, Missouri, Bowfin, Aviation Museum) takes a full day, and each site deserves one to two hours. Arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat.
28. Getting there is easy from Waikiki or the airport
Pearl Harbor sits about 20 to 30 minutes by car from Waikiki (roughly 11 miles) and only a few miles from Honolulu’s international airport. Many visitors also pair it with a narrated audio tour or book a guided package so tickets, transport, and timing are handled for you.
29. Dress comfortably and respectfully
Shorts, t-shirts, and comfortable walking shoes are fine, but remember this is a place of mourning: keep voices low at the memorial, remove hats during the program, and supervise children closely.
30. Children are welcome — and it’s a powerful lesson
Pearl Harbor is one of the best educational experiences in Hawaii for kids. The visitor center exhibits are age-appropriate, the boat ride is safe for all ages, and standing above the Arizona tends to make history click for young visitors in a way no textbook can.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit Pearl Harbor?
The Pearl Harbor National Memorial — including the visitor center, museums, and the USS Arizona Memorial program — is free. USS Arizona Memorial tickets are reserved through recreation.gov with a $1 per-ticket reservation fee. The Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfin, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are separately operated and charge their own admission fees.
How far in advance should I book USS Arizona Memorial tickets?
Book as early as you can. Timed tickets are released on recreation.gov in advance and popular dates and morning slots sell out quickly, especially in peak season. If advance tickets are gone, a limited number of same-day standby slots are typically offered at the visitor center — arrive early for the best chance.
How long does it take to visit Pearl Harbor?
Plan at least two to three hours for the visitor center and the USS Arizona Memorial program. If you want to see everything — the Arizona, Battleship Missouri, USS Bowfin, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum — give it a full day, with one to two hours per site.
Can you take bags into Pearl Harbor?
No. Bags, backpacks, and purses are not allowed inside Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and security screening is similar to an airport. Bring only the essentials in a small clear bag, or use the paid bag-storage facility near the entrance. Cameras are permitted.
Why does oil still leak from the USS Arizona?
The Arizona sank with about 1.5 million gallons of fuel aboard, and her tanks still seep roughly nine quarts of oil a day — the famous “tears of the Arizona.” The wreck is an active military burial site holding the remains of more than 900 crewmen, so the Navy and the National Park Service leave it undisturbed.
Is Pearl Harbor worth visiting with kids?
Absolutely. Pearl Harbor is one of the top-rated historic sites in the United States and an exceptional educational experience for children. The visitor center exhibits are age-appropriate, the boat ride to the Arizona Memorial is safe for all ages, and the scale of the ships — especially the Battleship Missouri and the submarine Bowfin — tends to captivate young visitors.