On Ford Island in Honolulu, the USS Oklahoma (BB-37) Memorial honors the 429 crewmen who died when the battleship capsized. White marble pillars inscribed with their names give the memorial a quiet, personal scale, with the water nearby offering space to pause. It stands close to the USS Missouri museum, so you can visit before or after touring the battleship. Read the words of John Maxwell Edmunds at the site, which add a personal note to this tribute.
The crew the memorial remembers
The USS Oklahoma Memorial honors the 429 crewmen who died when the battleship capsized. The USS Arizona is more widely known, but the Oklahoma’s losses are commemorated here in a quieter setting.
White marble pillars carry the names of those who died. Their simple, repeated form keeps the focus on the people remembered, rather than on elaborate decoration.
A quiet stop beside the USS Missouri
The memorial is close to the USS Missouri museum on Ford Island, making it possible to visit before or after touring the battleship. Its location can be easy to miss, so look for it as you approach the Missouri area.
John Maxwell Edmunds’ words at the memorial offer a moment for reflection. Read them at your own pace, then take in the water beside the site. If you are visiting as part of a tour, leave extra time on Ford Island so you are not limited to the stops on the group schedule.
FAQ
Where is the USS Oklahoma Memorial?
It is on Ford Island in Honolulu, near the USS Missouri museum.
Who does the memorial honor?
It commemorates the 429 crewmen who died when the USS Oklahoma capsized.
What can you see at the memorial?
White marble pillars inscribed with the names of those who died, along with John Maxwell Edmunds’ words.
Can you visit it with the USS Missouri museum?
Yes. The memorial is nearby, so you can stop before or after visiting the battleship museum.
