At 7:55 on the morning of December 7, 1941, the first Japanese aircraft reached Oahu and began an assault that killed 2, 403 Americans, wounded nearly 1, 200 more, sank or damaged 21 ships of the Pacific Fleet, and brought the United States into the most destructive war in human history. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center at Joint Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam is the gateway to understanding what happened that morning - and the Attack and Road to War exhibit galleries are the interpretive core that gives the site its historical depth.With more than 18, 000 reviews averaging 4.7 stars, the visitor center is one of the most visited and highly regarded historic sites in the United States, and the ratings reflect genuine quality. The galleries are divided into two complementary narratives: the Road to War section examines the diplomatic and military escalation in the Pacific during the 1930s that made the attack an increasingly likely possibility, giving visitors the historical context that transforms December 7 from a shock into an event with causes and precedents. The Attack section then reconstructs the two waves of the assault through artifacts, photographs, film footage, and recorded testimony from survivors - some of the most affecting primary source material on display anywhere in the country.Admission to the visitor center and these exhibit galleries is free, though the USS Arizona Memorial boat shuttle carries a fee and reservations are essential. The site is open daily from 7AM to 5PM, which allows early arrivals - advisable on busy days - to absorb the exhibits before the main crowds arrive.For the most complete Pearl Harbor experience, plan the full day: visitor center, exhibit galleries, Arizona Memorial, and optionally the USS Missouri battleship and the Pacific Aviation Museum. The site is located in Honolulu and is accessible via car or shuttle from Waikiki.
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