What Is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater?

Among the first stops for most Pearl Harbor visitors is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater. A key part of the educational experience that frames the events of December 7, 1941, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater screens a 23-minute documentary of the attack produced especially for the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center. 

Located near the entrance to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, the theater helps set the historical stage for your visit. By presenting archival footage, eyewitness interviews, and contextual background, the film helps our guests understand the significance of what they are about to see firsthand.

Some of the places visitors see at Pearl Harbor were already there on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese launched their surprise attack, while others were constructed later to commemorate that terrible day. Structures like the two hangars that house the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum were present for the attack and still show signs of being struck by enemy fire. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, the USS Arizona Memorial, and the Memorial Theater, on the other hand, were constructed later to educate guests and honor the memory of the thousands of lives lost on that ill-fated Sunday morning.

History of the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater, which is located to the left of the main entrance, was an original part of the plans of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, which was first built in 1980 and expanded and renovated in 2010. The original theater was built alongside a museum exhibit and a bookstore.

Renovated with the rest of the Visitor Center, the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater now includes two identical auditoriums. The theater is the first stop of the timed USS Arizona Memorial program. The interior is a simple design with stadium-style seating that looks down at a movie theater-style screen. Here, visitors watch a 23-minute documentary film that includes archival footage from the attack, as well as information on the USS Arizona and the memorial built to honor the men lost when the battleship exploded and sank.

What Is the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater Film About?

The film shown at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater chronicles the events of December 7, 1941, using archival footage and interviews to provide historical context for the USS Arizona Memorial visit. While the building that houses the theater is a relatively recent construction, the film provides visitors with a deep connection to the events of December 7, 1941. After viewing the film, guests emerge with a much deeper understanding of what occurred aboard USS Arizona and around Pearl Harbor on that December morning nearly 80 years ago.

What Happens After Watching the Film?

After the film, visitors exit directly to a dock area to board a U.S. Navy shuttle that transports them to the USS Arizona Memorial (weather permitting).

Notable Artifacts Near the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater

Near the entrance to the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater is a physical piece of USS Arizona: the ship's bell, which was salvaged from the mighty battleship and put on display as another means of memorializing the men who died during the assault on Pearl Harbor. Another piece of the ship, her anchor, can be found just north of the Visitor Center entrance.