Pearl Harbor Museum and Visitor Center
Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:42 pm
"Engineers estimate as few as 2 years of useful life remaining before the world's most complete Pearl Harbor museum must be abandoned"
Just wondered if anyone else knew about this. It came as a shock to me when I viewed the website before I went to Pearl Harbor. We should all donate and help them build a new museum and visitor center.
We can all donate at there website:
http://www.pearlharbormemorial.com
Just wondered if anyone else knew about this. It came as a shock to me when I viewed the website before I went to Pearl Harbor. We should all donate and help them build a new museum and visitor center.
We can all donate at there website:
http://www.pearlharbormemorial.com
Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:21 pm
I had not heard that. I went in 2003. When we got on the ferry to go out to the Arizona, they rolled a veteran on in a wheel chair. You could have heard a pin drop. I almost lost it. The place has a most holy feel to it. I wish every American could visit there.
Steve G
Steve G
Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:57 pm
The one time I visited I was fortunate to be on the 1st boat in the morning.
What an erie and silent place it was to step onto then.
Rich
What an erie and silent place it was to step onto then.
Rich
Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:43 pm
Aloha All,
The USN's existing USS AZ Visitor's Center sets on reclaimed land...which is sinking...and the "Museum" portion has no doors to keep the salt air from the exhibits.
THUS when the plans for the new Visitor's Center were unveiled, I thought SURELY the USN would have doors to the exhibit area...NOPE! Still to be exposed to the salt air 24/7.
Oh, for 'politically correctness', the US National Park Service is only a tenant organization at Pearl Harbor. The NPS Park Rangers operate the USN-owned Visitor's Center facility and provides tour guides. Note the USN retained operation of the boats to the USS AZ and the monument over the USS Arizona.
Cheers,
David Aiken
The USN's existing USS AZ Visitor's Center sets on reclaimed land...which is sinking...and the "Museum" portion has no doors to keep the salt air from the exhibits.
THUS when the plans for the new Visitor's Center were unveiled, I thought SURELY the USN would have doors to the exhibit area...NOPE! Still to be exposed to the salt air 24/7.
Oh, for 'politically correctness', the US National Park Service is only a tenant organization at Pearl Harbor. The NPS Park Rangers operate the USN-owned Visitor's Center facility and provides tour guides. Note the USN retained operation of the boats to the USS AZ and the monument over the USS Arizona.
Cheers,
David Aiken
Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:54 pm
I have heard about the memorial sinking on previous occasions so a few years ago my wife & I made a small donation towards a new bldg. Pearl Harbor is an amazing place to visit and I hope they can raise the necessary funds to construct a new facility.
Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:50 pm
51fixer wrote:The one time I visited I was fortunate to be on the 1st boat in the morning.
What an erie and silent place it was to step onto then.
Rich
My wife and I had the same experience a couple of years ago. That is an awesome place to visit. May they all rest in peace.
Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:54 pm
It is quite erie but yet an amazing site. The fact that oil still leaks out after 66 years is just amazing.
Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:56 pm
Oil leaking?
It looks like oil, tastes like oil,
yet in its heart, those are tears.
It looks like oil, tastes like oil,
yet in its heart, those are tears.
Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:22 pm
It sounds like everyone had a different experience there than me. Both times I went to the Arizona I felt like I was at Disneyland. Kids running around and yelling with hoards of people crowding around for pictures. It was sad and upsetting. The simple Utah memorial was much more peaceful for me.
Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:41 pm
Curtis Block wrote:It sounds like everyone had a different experience there than me. Both times I went to the Arizona I felt like I was at Disneyland. Kids running around and yelling with hoards of people crowding around for pictures. It was sad and upsetting. The simple Utah memorial was much more peaceful for me.
I went in early Jan of 87. It was my honeymoon.
Hard to believe it was 20 yrs ago.
I guess it was that 1st boat over so the Memorial was empty that allowed it to be more tranquil.
The oil slick is quite a reminder that the ship is still alive in a way.
The only place I missed going to in HI is Punchbowl.
Rich
Sat Nov 10, 2007 6:38 pm
I was there in 1966...remember it as if it was yesterday. It is sad that they are letting the mermorial just rot away...but what really is disgusting, is that while national treasures like this are allowed to deteriorate, we have "servants" of the people...read Hillary...wanting to use taxpayer's money to build such waste as a Woodstock museum.
Oops...forgot....this would be honoring the American military and their bravery during wartime.....that goes against everything a died in the wool democrat stands for!
Oops...forgot....this would be honoring the American military and their bravery during wartime.....that goes against everything a died in the wool democrat stands for!
Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:10 pm
I was fortunate to visit back in 99, I t was later in the day so it was quite crowded and a bit "Disneyland." But I waited until everybody loaded back on the launch, and the memorial was empty and had an almost reverential feel about it. It was one the highlights of my trip.
Sunlight was streaming in, it looked beautiful, and I took a photo looking through the memorial to the names of the fallen on the back wall......then the security guard says to me "Sir why are you taking a photo of nothing?"
I turned to her absolutely stunned and just shook my head. I was a visitor from another nation and could feel the specialness of the memorial and yet she worked there every day.
I just bit my tongue other wise I would have lost it at her.
Mark
Sunlight was streaming in, it looked beautiful, and I took a photo looking through the memorial to the names of the fallen on the back wall......then the security guard says to me "Sir why are you taking a photo of nothing?"
I turned to her absolutely stunned and just shook my head. I was a visitor from another nation and could feel the specialness of the memorial and yet she worked there every day.
I just bit my tongue other wise I would have lost it at her.
Mark
Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:11 pm
Aloha Mark,
You have a wonderful photo of over a thousand souls.
Mahalo nui loa,
David
You have a wonderful photo of over a thousand souls.
Mahalo nui loa,
David
Mon Nov 12, 2007 2:52 am
I would like to amend my post, thanks to a fellow member who showed me the error I made. I singled out Democrats as being the worst when it comes to "pork barrel" funding......the fellow member pointed out that it is Repbublicans as well and I have to agree with him. I should have just used the word politicians and not singled out one party or the other.
Mon Nov 12, 2007 8:04 am
XRayist,
What do you mean, the memorial is rotting away? Are you talking about the ship, or the memorial above her? If you mean the memorial, I guess I'm not sure what you're talking about...I was there in 2004 and it seemed fine to me. The memorial does not touch the Arizona. If you mean the ship, what would you suggest? She is, after all, a grave for 900+ sailors. In my opinion, that fact outweighs any any consideration of her as a "national treasure". She, and the sailors entombed on her, should be left in peace.
John
What do you mean, the memorial is rotting away? Are you talking about the ship, or the memorial above her? If you mean the memorial, I guess I'm not sure what you're talking about...I was there in 2004 and it seemed fine to me. The memorial does not touch the Arizona. If you mean the ship, what would you suggest? She is, after all, a grave for 900+ sailors. In my opinion, that fact outweighs any any consideration of her as a "national treasure". She, and the sailors entombed on her, should be left in peace.
John