Posted on 12/12/2024

December 7, 1941, is remembered annually for the attack on Hawai’i’s Pearl Harbor that drew the USA into World War 2. But September 2, 1945, is just as important in American history. That date in 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war, with the formal Japanese surrender ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. 

Two moving battleship memorials at Hawai'i’s Pearl Harbor symbolically bookend America’s War in the Pacific. The USS Arizona, sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor, remains the final resting place of 900 of the ship’s 1177 sailors who lost their lives that day. 

The USS Missouri, the location of the ceremony where the war ended, ultimately returned to Pearl Harbor after decades of service and is now docked just a ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial. And for the 80th anniversary of ‘VJ’ (Victory in Japan) Day, a new exhibit on the Battleship Missouri Memorial commemorates that historic and momentous occasion. 

Opening September 2, 2025, the immersive Pathway To Peace: USS Missouri’s World War II Experience explores the historic ship’s involvement in World War II and the experiences of her sailors onboard. Pearl Harbor visitors can take an interactive journey through the pivotal events surrounding the USS Missouri's wartime service and her emergence as an international symbol of peace at the end of WWII.

The exhibit offers visitors an unprecedented look into the lives of the sailors on the “Mighty Mo” who served during one of the most pivotal moments in American history. It spotlights crew stories through personal artifacts and belongings. Guests will get a chance to hear directly from WWII sailors through interactive media interviews with Veterans. Complimentary historic objects will help bring their experiences to life for visitors. 

The exhibition also highlights the formal Japanese Surrender Ceremony that took place aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945, ending human history's bloodiest conflict, from the unique perspective of the shipmates who facilitated the era-defining event.

Exhibit cases will display items from Battleship Missouri Memorial’s historic artifact collection, some that have never been publicly displayed, including objects donated by the ship’s crew and their families. Notable artifacts on display include Surrender Cards that were issued exclusively to those in attendance onboard during the September 2nd Surrender Ceremony in 1945, a Japanese Arisaka rifle that was captured by a USS Missouri landing party, and the sword of the ship’s first commanding officer.

About Battleship Missouri Memorial

The USS Missouri’s career spanned five decades and three wars – World War II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm – after which it was decommissioned and donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association. The Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial as a historic attraction and oversees her care and preservation.

Since opening in January 1999, the Battleship Missouri Memorial has attracted more than 10 million visitors from around the world with a fascinating tour experience showcasing the USS Missouri’s unique place in history. Docked near the USS Arizona Memorial, the Mighty Mo completes a historical visitor experience that begins with the “day of infamy” and sinking of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and ends with Japan’s formal surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.

Pathway to Peace: USS Missouri's World War II Experience opens to the public on September 2, 2025, in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the end of World War II.

Plan now to include the Battleship Missouri Memorial on your next trip to Hawai’i.

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Images courtesy of Battleship Missouri Memorial.

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