While you’re making plans for summer vacation, be aware that, depending on your plans, you may need to strike one popular historic location off your list.
As per the National Park Service, the USS Arizona Memorial, the number one visitor destination in Hawaii, is closed until further notice. As per the NPS’s Facebook post:
Due to a critical structural and safety issue impacting the USS Arizona Memorial dock and visitor loading ramp, the Memorial will remain closed to visitation for an undetermined period of time while repairs are made…
…Following several weeks of analysis and continued consultation with structural engineers, the NPS has determined that what originally seemed to be a minor repair process, is in fact more significant than originally anticipated. The amount of time needed to implement the repairs is unknown, but the NPS will continue to provide information to the public as our team of specialists works together to restore access as soon as possible.
All other amenities within the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center remain open and accessible. Visitors are encouraged to visit our two free museums, shore side exhibits, bookstore, and virtual reality center. Likewise, our partners at the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor are open and ready to welcome visitors.
“There is a brow or an edge where the visitor ramp meets the memorial, and at that point, there’s been some fissures located on the exterior,” explained Jay Blount, a spokesman for the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. “After further investigation on the interior, it was determined that the structure is not supporting the loading ramp the way that we need.”
Engineers are trying to figure out a possible long-term solution.
During the course of repairs, the free USS Arizona Memorial programs will proceed on schedule. Visitors will continue to see the 25 minute documentary film followed by a harbor tour of Battleship Row in close proximity to the USS Arizona Memorial. The National Park Service (NPS) will also provide live or recorded commentary during tours to enhance visitors’ experience to the greatest extent possible. However visitors will not be able to visit the memorial until further notice.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love if you decided to hang around and clicked the button on the top (if you’re on your computer) or the bottom (if you’re on your phone/tablet) of this page to follow our blog and get emailed notifications of when we post (it’s usually just two or three times a day). Or maybe you’d like to join our Facebook group, where we talk and ask questions about travel (including Disney parks), creative ways to earn frequent flyer miles and hotel points, how to save money on or for your trips, get access to travel articles you may not see otherwise, etc. Whether you’ve read our posts before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.