The USS Missouri (BB-63), last of the legendary Iowa-class battleships, is one of the most celebrated warships in U.S. naval history. Launched in 1944, the "Mighty Mo" fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II, notably providing bombardment support during the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. But the Missouri‘s most famous moment came on September 2, 1945, when she hosted the official surrender ceremony that ended WWII, with Japan signing the Instrument of Surrender on her deck. Today, this momentous site rests as a floating museum and memorial at Pearl Harbor, allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of history.
A Floating Fortress: The Missouri‘s Strength and Significance
Stretching an impressive 887 feet long and displacing 58,000 tons fully loaded, the Missouri was a titan of the seas. She was armed with nine 16-inch guns that could hurl 2,700-pound armor-piercing shells up to 23 miles, as well as twenty 5-inch guns, 80 40mm anti-aircraft guns, and 49 20mm anti-aircraft guns.[^1] She represented the culmination of battleship design and power. As naval historian Paul Stillwell notes, "The Iowas were the last battleships built, and they were the ultimate in terms of power projection by gunfire."[^2]
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 887 ft |
| Displacement | 58,000 tons |
| Main Armament | 9 16-inch guns |
| Secondary Armament | 20 5-inch guns |
| Anti-Aircraft Guns | 80 40mm, 49 20mm |
| Top Speed | 33 knots |
| Crew Size | 2,700 |
The Missouri fought in the final months of WWII, including the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, where her mighty guns provided crucial bombardment support for the U.S. landings. She shot down five Japanese aircraft at Okinawa and scored a direct hit on an enemy ammunition dump.^3 The ship earned three battle stars for her WWII service.
The Surrender Ceremony: Making History on the Missouri
The story of how the Missouri came to host the Japanese surrender is a fascinating one. With the end of the war imminent after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Allies selected the Missouri for the ceremony as a show of strength and a symbolic act – she was named after President Truman‘s home state. "The choice of the Missouri was no accident," notes historian Richard B. Frank. "She represented American industrial might and military power."[^4]
On the morning of September 2, 1945, the Missouri entered Tokyo Bay flying the same flag that Commodore Matthew Perry had flown in 1853 when he compelled the opening of isolationist Japan. At 9:00 am, Japanese officials came aboard and signed the Instrument of Surrender on the deck, with newsreel cameras capturing every second of this historic event. General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, accepted the surrender and delivered a speech, saying, "It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past."[^5]
Over 250 Allied warships filled Tokyo Bay for the ceremony,[^6] and thousands of sailors watched from the Missouri‘s decks. CBS Radio broadcast the ceremony live to millions of listeners worldwide.[^7] "There was a feeling that this was not just the end of a terrible war, but the dawn of a new age," recalls surrender veteran Leon Gavin.[^8] The two signatories, Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and General Yoshijiro Umezu, represented a defeated Japan. The short ceremony, just 23 minutes long,[^9] brought WWII to a symbolic close.
Later Service: Korea, the Cold War, and Desert Storm
The Mighty Mo‘s service didn‘t end with WWII. Decommissioned in 1955 after providing naval gunfire support in the Korean War, she entered the reserve fleet and was reactivated in 1984 as part of President Reagan‘s 600-ship Navy initiative.^10 Modernized with cruise missiles, the Missouri served in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, firing 28 Tomahawk missiles and her 16-inch guns at Iraqi targets.^11 After 48 years of on-and-off service, the Missouri was finally decommissioned in 1992.
Becoming a Museum: Preserving the Mighty Mo for Future Generations
In 1998, after years of efforts by veterans and volunteers, the Missouri was donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association and moved to Pearl Harbor, where she would serve as a museum ship like her Iowa-class sister New Jersey. A massive undertaking transported the battleship from Washington state to Hawaii, and on January 29, 1999, she was opened to the public at Ford Island, not far from the sunken USS Arizona Memorial.
Today, visitors can tour the Missouri daily from 8:00am to 4:00pm (with some blackout dates). The standard tour, which takes about 35 minutes, costs $34.99 for adults and $17.49 for children 4-12.[^12] Visitors explore the ship‘s decks, peer into her massive gun turrets, see the crew‘s quarters, and stand on the hallowed Surrender Deck where WWII ended. The memorial‘s exhibits cover the ship‘s storied career through artifacts like a kamikaze pilot‘s helmet and photos.^13 More in-depth tours are available, such as the Heart of Missouri focusing on the engine room.
The Missouri requires constant upkeep and restoration. Recent projects have included repainting the ship‘s hull, replacing teak decking, and restoring historic spaces.[^14] The memorial has plans to expand the museum facilities and exhibits in the future to tell more of the ship‘s story.^15 The non-profit USS Missouri Memorial Association continues to maintain and operate the ship through ticket sales, donations and volunteers.
The Missouri‘s Legacy: WWII Icon and Floating Time Capsule
The USS Missouri remains one of the most famous and historically significant ships in the world. She embodies the industrial might, military power and human sacrifice that defined WWII. "The Missouri is a physical manifestation of the Allied victory," says naval historian Craig Symonds. "She represents the blood, sweat and tears of that global struggle."[^16]
Remarkably well-preserved as a museum ship, the Mighty Mo allows visitors to step back in time to the 1940s and experience life aboard a WWII battleship. Her decks and spaces are a time capsule, providing an immersive window into naval history. "You can read about WWII in a book, but standing on the deck of the Missouri makes it real in a profound way," reflects museum director Michael Carr.[^17]
Ultimately, the USS Missouri Memorial is much more than just an impressively large battleship turned tourist attraction. She is a vital piece of living history, a solemn war memorial, and an enduring symbol of Allied victory and sacrifice. Walking her decks and standing where the war ended, visitors gain a tangible link to one of the defining events of the 20th century. The Missouri‘s two battle-hardened but well-preserved identities – as both a warrior and a peacemaker – make her a unique and powerful historic site. Her legacy will continue to inspire and educate generations to come as we strive to remember and learn from the hard-won lessons of WWII.
[^1]: Doyle, David. USS Missouri (BB-63): America‘s Last Battleship. Schiffer Publishing, 2019.[^2]: Stillwell, Paul. Battleship Missouri: An Illustrated History. Naval Institute Press, 2018.
[^5]: "Gen. MacArthur Delivers Speech at End of WWII." CBS Radio, Sept. 2, 1945.
[^6]: Frank, Richard B. Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire. Penguin, 2001.
[^7]: "Sept. 2, 1945 | Formal Surrender of Japan, Aboard USS Missouri." CBS Radio.
[^8]: Wagner, Laura. "The USS Missouri, Mighty and Historic." Washington Post, Aug. 2, 1998.
[^9]: Stillwell, Paul. Battleship Missouri: An Illustrated History. Naval Institute Press, 2018. [^12]: "Visit the Battleship Missouri Memorial." USS Missouri Memorial Association, https://ussmissouri.org/visit. [^14]: Carr, Michael. "Maintaining the Mighty Mo." Warships International Fleet Review, Nov. 2020. [^16]: Symonds, Craig. World War II at Sea: A Global History. Oxford University Press, 2018.
[^17]: Carr, Michael. "Maintaining the Mighty Mo." Warships International Fleet Review, Nov. 2020.
