World War II Valor In The Pacific National Monument

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (VALR), part of the National Park Service (NPS), operates and maintains the USS Arizona Memorial at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center.

VALR is also the caretaker for the USS Oklahoma Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, six Chief Petty Officer Bungalows located on Ford Island, and Mooring Quays F6, F7, & F8, which formed a part of Battleship Row.

The mission here at VALR is to preserve and interpret the stories of the Pacific War.

Know Before You Go!

There are many ways to travel to the USS Arizona Memorial:

1. Your own vehicle (please do a GPS search for "Pearl Harbor Visitor Center")
2. Via public transportation (www.thebus.org)
3. Taxi cab
4. Through one of the many commercial tour companies (permitted by the NPS) that provide this service for a fee.

What can I do at the visitor center?

There is no charge to come to the visitor center. We have two museums, as well as exhibits along the harbor, that are free and open to the public. The USS Arizona Memorial program is also FREE, but each participant must have a timed ticket (except for small children that can sit in your lap).

The program includes a 23-minute documentary in our theater, followed by a US Navy boat ride to the memorial, time at the memorial, and a boat ride back. All together, the program lasts about 75 minutes.

New programs begin every 15 minutes, with the first starting at 7:30 am and the last at 3:00 pm. No programs begin at 12:15 and 12:30.

How do I get tickets to visit the USS Arizona Memorial?

1. Walk-In Tickets: 1,300 walk-in tickets are available daily at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, which opens at 7:00 a.m. Tickets are FREE and available on a first-come, first-served basis. All members of your party must be present to receive a walk-in ticket.

If you would like walk-in tickets, please arrive early! Even if you arrive early enough to secure tickets, you may have a few hours to wait before your tour if you come during our busy seasons (Christmas break, spring break, and summertime).

2. Reserve Tickets Online: You can reserve tickets up to two months in advance. You can also reserve next-day tickets starting at 7 a.m. HST the day prior to your visit.

To make your reservation, please go to www.recreation.gov or call 1-877-444-6777. Reservations book up quickly (especially during summer months), so plan ahead!

Tickets to the USS Arizona Memorial are FREE, but if you reserve online, there is a $1.50 NONREFUNDABLE convenience fee per ticket.

Please pick up reserved tickets one hour prior to your USS Arizona Memorial tour. Unclaimed tickets at the time of entry to the theater will be reissued to the general public.

Security measures at the monument:

Strict security measures prohibit purses, handbags, fanny packs, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage and/or other items that offer concealment.

Visitors may bring cameras, cell phones, and wallets, although since no bags are allowed, you are encouraged to pack lightly.

A storage facility operated by the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park is available near the entrance to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. There is a storage fee of $4 per bag. This facility is in operation daily 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Visitors may use the same bag storage and parking stall for visits to all Pearl Harbor Historic Sites.

Where can I park?

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center has several large parking lots with free parking for visitors.

Although federal law enforcement officers and security bike patrols monitor the parking lots, please do not leave items of value in your car.

What is the atmosphere on the memorial?

Visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial and the USS Utah Memorial should remember that these places commemorate those who died as a part of the December 7, 1941 attack. These memorials are places of honor, inspiration, reflection, and quiet contemplation. Visitors are asked to assist in maintaining an atmosphere of decorum.

Military personnel planning to go to the USS Arizona Memorial must be in their dress uniform.

For answers to more of the most frequently asked questions, please go here: https://www.nps.gov/valr/faqs.htm.