The USS Missouri (BB-63) is more than a cataloged battleship in the history texts—it’s an American symbol of perseverance, ingenuity, and tradition on the waves. Built in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during the desperate days of World War II, the Missouri was the last of the Iowa-class battleships. Her long, 887-foot hull and four powerful engines developing 212,000 shaft horsepower allowed her to cut through the water more than 33 knots—faster than any other American battleship and faster than the largest Japanese warships she would encounter.
Her name is full of honor. Missouri was the third to be named for the state, following a 19th-century steam frigate and a Maine-class battleship that sailed with the Great White Fleet. But BB-63 would surpass them all in fame, being part of not just American naval history but world history.
Ordered in June 1944, she was quickly incorporated into the Pacific campaign, providing gunfire support at Iwo Jima and Okinawa and firing on targets across the Japanese home islands.
Among all her assignments, one stood above all others. Moored in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, the Missouri was the site of the formal Japanese surrender, closing World War II. Those days, captured on black-and-white newsreels and photographs, converted the vessel from a warship to an emblem of peace. Her decks saw an anistoric ending that reshaped nations and lives across the globe.
The history of thesouri didn’t end there. During and after the war, she served in the Atlantic, survived a grounding accident off Hampton Roads, and subsequently excelled in the Korean War with precise and ferocious shore bombardments. Although retired in 1955, the ship was recalled to active service during the 1980s as part of an extensive Navy overhaul.
Re-armed with Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles, cutting-edge radar, and Phalanx close-defense systems, she re-emerged not as a relic, but as a modern giant ready to face new threats. She even saw action in the Gulf War, delivering precise and lethal firepower.
Missouri’s strength lay in her combination of power, speed, and adaptability. Her nine 16-inch guns could hurl shells weighing nearly 2,700 pounds more than 23 miles, while her secondary 5-inch guns offered protection against enemy aircraft and shore defenses. Armor up to 17 inches thick shielded her from the heaviest fire. In her day, she was a marvel of naval engineering, built to endure and dominate.
And so the Missouri rests now in Pearl Harbor, yards from the wreck of the USS Arizona, and creates a poignant visual bridge between the beginning and end of the war. Folks go aboard her decks, their imaginations taking them through history’s pages, the events it witnessed, experiencing living history, not in books or on television.
Keeping her alive is not all about keeping the past alive. Day and night, volunteers and historians work hard to keep the Missouri a museum, giving each generation the chance to feel the values that it represents. The ship is not just an exhibit; it’s a challenge to go back in time.
Even beyond the museum, Missouri’s spirit endures. Scale model enthusiasts around the world meticulously recreate her in miniature, from her radar arrays to the weathered decks, keeping her legacy alive in every detailed reproduction.
Thssouri’s importance isn’t measured merely by battles fought or miles sailed. It lives in the memories of those who served aboard, in the stories handed down, and in the awe of those who walk her decks today. At war, at peace, or preserved for posterity, the USS Missouri remains far more than steel and armaments. She stands as a testament to American strength, endurance, and a history that continues to inspire the future.