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A modern-day aerial view of Pearl Harbor, including Ford Island and Battleship Row.

Pearl Harbor

This remarkable port, home to the great US Pacific Fleet, has been called "majestic," one of the greatest harbors in the Pacific.

In fact, it's long been the envy of every nation that tried to control it. The sheltered blue-green oasis glitters with scenic, historic, and strategic importance - importance that predates the attack that drew the United States into World War II. Long before the morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor had been captivating people with its dramatic beauty and provocative history.

 
A black and white aerial photo of the line up of battleships, called Battleship Row, at the start of the Pearl Harbor attack.

Battlefield O'ahu

Just before 8:00 am that Sunday morning, many of the sailors aboard naval vessels moored at Pearl Harbor were getting ready for leave and preparing for church services. In a few minutes, the colors would be raised on more than 185 naval vessels throughout the harbor.

On Ford Island and around O'ahu, soldiers, Marines, and sailors at Army and Marine airfields and naval air stations were going through similar military routines.

 
A map illustration showing the major battle sites of the Pacific War.

Pacific Battles

The human toll of the war was unprecedented. The U.S. military lost over 106,000 in the Pacific; 2.1 million Japanese sailors, soldiers, and airmen died.

From 1937, when Japan occupied China, to 1945, over 20 million civilians in the Pacific and Southeast Asian theaters died from military attacks, massacres, disease, and starvation.

Last updated: March 22, 2018

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Mailing Address:

National Park Service
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
1 Arizona Memorial Place

Honolulu, HI 96818

Phone:

808 422-3399

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