USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.

What USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. does

The USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. is a Hawaii-domiciled 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded in 1994 that operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor on Ford Island. The organization received ownership of the USS Missouri (BB-63) from the U.S. Navy in 1998 and opened the vessel to the public in January 1999; the historic ship is the site of the September 2, 1945 Japanese surrender ceremony that ended World War II. Since opening, the memorial has attracted more than 10 million visitors. Core products include General Admission tours (priced at $39.99 adult / $19.99 child) available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese; premium add-on tours (Captain's Tour and Chief Engineer's Tour at $32 each); the youth-focused Chuck's Quest scavenger hunt ($8 add-on, launching 2026); the bundled 'Passport to Pearl Harbor' multi-site ticket; overnight encampments for groups of 30-80; virtual classroom and outreach programs via Skype and Zoom; and the Picnic on the Pier annual event. The organization also generates revenue through a Shopify-powered Battleshop gift shop, private event hosting (weddings, corporate events, military ceremonies), memberships, and monetary donations including the 'All Hands on Deck!' teak-deck capital campaign. The museum is supported by 2,502 volunteers contributing 8,085 hours annually and operates under a 25-year pier lease with the U.S. Navy signed in 2025.

The business model is a multi-revenue-stream attraction operator with no subscription or recurring software component. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through on-site ticket sales, online ticketing via ussmissouri.org and the pearlharborhistoricsites.org platform, and the Royal Star Hawaii shuttle. Customer segments include individual tourists, K-12 school groups (grades 4-12), military families and veterans, and international visitors from Japan, China, and Korea — with dedicated localized social media channels and language-specific tours serving East Asian inbound markets. The organization maintains cross-Pacific peace-and-reconciliation partnerships with the Yamato Museum (Kure, Japan), Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and Chiran Peace Museum, and operates domestic partnerships with Southwest Airlines, Microsoft Education, Old Salt Coffee, and the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation. The Association is led by President and CEO Michael Allen Carr, who was awarded Japan's Order of the Rising Sun in 2023.

Name

USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.

Legal name

USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.

Website

https://ussmissouri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Ship Museum and Naval Heritage Attraction

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (71212)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

Keywords

• Historic ship museum
• Naval heritage tours
• Educational museum programs
• Pearl Harbor attraction
• Museum event hosting

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: General admission fees for visitors to tour the battleship museum, with standard and discounted pricing for adults and children
2. Premium Tours: Upgraded tour experiences including Captain's Tour and Chief Engineer's Tour at additional cost
3. Gift Shop: Retail merchandise sales through the Battleshop online store
4. Event Hosting: Private events including weddings, corporate events, and signature events like Picnic on the Pier
5. Donations and Memberships: Monetary donations and membership programs to support preservation efforts
6. Group Tours and Programs: School group pricing, overnight encampments, and educational program fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The USS Missouri Memorial Association operates the Battleship Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor as a historic museum and visitor attraction. It sells tiered shipboard tour experiences (General Admission, Captain's Tour, Chief Engineer's Tour, Chuck's Quest youth scavenger hunt), K-12 educational programs (overnight encampments, virtual classrooms, outreach presentations), event hosting (weddings, corporate events, Picnic on the Pier), and museum gift shop merchandise.

Product overview

The Battleship Missouri Memorial operates as a historic museum and attraction offering tiered tour experiences. Core products include General Admission with guided or self-guided tours covering the Main Deck, Below Decks, and Above Decks. Premium add-on modules include the Captain's Tour, Chief Engineer's Tour, and Chinese Language Upgrade Tour for deeper exploration of command operations and mechanical systems. Youth-focused offerings include Chuck's Quest interactive scavenger hunt and educational programs such as Overnight Encampment, Virtual Classroom, Outreach presentations, and the Anchor School Partnership. The Passport to Pearl Harbor combines access to all four historic sites. The museum also hosts special events including Picnic on the Pier and speech contests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Tour Standard museum admission including a guided 35-minute tour or self-guided exploration with a digital map, covering Main Deck, Below Decks, and Above Decks routes. Tours available in English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
• Captain's Tour 45-minute upgraded guided tour showcasing authority and command operations, including the Wardroom, Radio Central, captain's in-port cabin, Combat Engagement Center, and Gun Turret #1. Limited to 10 guests, ages 10+.
• Chief Engineer's Tour 60-minute upgraded guided tour showcasing ship mechanics including Broadway passage, Fire Room #4 with Babcock & Wilcox boilers, Engine Room #4, and aft plotting room. Limited to 10 guests, ages 10+.
• Chuck's Quest: Secrets Of The Mighty Mo Interactive scavenger hunt experience for children ages 4-12 led by Chuck the Iguana mascot. Self-guided adventure with 14 stops around the ship, involving hidden signal flags, decoded messages, and historical stories. Participants can become Honorary Mighty Mo Crewmembers.
• Passport to Pearl Harbor Combined ticket offering access to all four Pearl Harbor Historic Sites: Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Audio Tour, Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center, Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. Valid for one or two days.
• Overnight Encampment Year-round overnight program for groups of 30-80 guests designed to foster leadership and team building while experiencing shipboard life. Includes activities and meals aboard the battleship.
• Virtual Classroom One-hour virtual field trip experience available via Skype or Zoom, taking students on a tour of the USS Missouri with emphasis on WWII history, followed by a Q&A session. Classes available 7am-4pm HST Monday-Friday.
• Chinese Language Upgrade Tour 60-minute deep tour in Chinese combining elements of the Captain's Tour and Chief Engineer's Tour, offering access to the captain's cabin, Combat Engagement Center, boiler rooms, engine rooms, and Gun Turret #1. Limited to 10 guests, ages 10+.
• Picnic on the Pier Annual Independence Day event on July 4th featuring live music, ship touring, concessions, and fireworks display over Pearl Harbor. Includes General Admission and VIP ticket options with reserved seating.
• Battleshop (Gift Shop) Retail merchandise store selling USS Missouri-themed gifts, apparel, and memorabilia online via Shopify and on-site at Pearl Harbor.
• Private Event Hosting (Weddings & Corporate Events) Private event hosting on the battleship and pier, including weddings and vow renewals, corporate events, military ceremonies, flag raising services, and community events, leveraging the iconic Pearl Harbor venue.
• Membership Program Recurring membership program providing supporters with benefits and ongoing funding for preservation of the Battleship Missouri Memorial.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10 million visitors welcomed since opening in 1999
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southwest AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Southwest Airlines partnered with Pearl Harbor Historic Sites to donate 400 complimentary e-passes for neighbor island students (grades 4-12) to fly to Oahu for a two-day Pearl Harbor excursion, including overnight accommodations aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial.
• Yamato Museum (Kure, Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister museum partnership with the Yamato Museum in Kure, Japan as part of efforts to promote peace and reconciliation between the United States and Japan.
• Chiran Peace MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExhibit exchanges with Chiran Peace Museum to further promote a neutral display of the events of WWII.
• Hiroshima Peace Memorial MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngaged in exhibit exchanges with Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to promote understanding of WWII events.
• Old Salt CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOld Salt Coffee partners with the Battleship Missouri Memorial and Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial, donating $1 per bag from online sales of Battleship Blend coffee to support preservation efforts.
• Royal Star HawaiicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial transportation partner for events like Picnic on the Pier, providing shuttle service from Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to the battleship.
• Pearl Harbor Historic SitescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with other Pearl Harbor Historic Sites including USS Arizona Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum to provide comprehensive visitor experiences and the Passport to Pearl Harbor ticket.
• Bob & Dolores Hope FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for the historic 80th WWII Commemoration Events in partnership with Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
• Wreaths Across America RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast partnership launching 'Last Battleship – The History, Heroes, and Legacy of the USS Missouri' podcast series.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• USS Midway Museum: Museum aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway in San Diego. Operates a comparable business model — paid admission, self-guided audio tours, premium guided tours, youth programs, event hosting, and gift shop — on a historic naval vessel converted into a ticketed attraction.
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: Museum aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid at Pier 86 in New York City. Closely comparable: historic naval vessel, paid admissions, premium tour add-ons, school group programming, event rentals, and a major urban-tourist catchment.
• Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial: Museum aboard the Iowa-class battleship USS New Jersey in Camden, NJ — the closest direct battleship peer. Same vessel class lineage, comparable tour structure, overnight encampment programs, and shared donor partnership (Old Salt Coffee).
• USS Lexington Museum on the Bay: Museum aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas. Historic naval-vessel museum with paid admission, premium tours, youth overnight programs, and event hosting — directly analogous operating model.
• USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park: Memorial park and battleship museum in Mobile, Alabama. Operates a South Dakota-class battleship (USS Alabama) as a paid attraction with comparable tour, education, and event programming on a historic naval vessel.
• National WWII Museum: Land-based WWII museum in New Orleans focused on the American experience in WWII. Closest thematic peer — overlapping subject matter, school-group programming, premium tours, event hosting, and donor/membership model — though without the ship-as-venue angle.
• USS Constitution: Oldest commissioned warship afloat, operated as a museum ship by the U.S. Navy and National Park Service in Boston. Comparable historic-naval-vessel museum and education programming, though federally operated rather than nonprofit-run.
• Nauticus / USS Wisconsin: Maritime-themed museum in Norfolk, Virginia, featuring the Iowa-class battleship USS Wisconsin. Comparable naval museum model with paid admission, shipboard tours, and education programs adjacent to a major naval base.
• Yamato Museum (Kure Maritime Museum): Maritime museum in Kure, Japan, sister-museum partner of the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Direct peer as a battleship-themed museum and partner in US-Japan peace/reconciliation programming, with overlapping WWII interpretation.

Regional players

• Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum: Adjacent historic attraction on Ford Island sharing the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites portfolio and the Passport to Pearl Harbor bundle. Competes for the same visitor day and tourist wallet in the same micro-geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/BattleshipMissouriMemorial63/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/Battleshipmissouri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/battleship-missouri-memorial/featured
• Instagraminstagram.com/battleshipmissouri
• TikToktiktok.com/@battleshipmissouri
• Xx.com/USSMissouri

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.