Pearl Harbor Museum Opens With Upgraded Elevator

After being closed for years, the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, is set to reopen the historic Ford Island Control Tower on Memorial Day, the museum reports. The project comes with a renewed elevator. The new visit, “Top of the Tower Tour,” is a guided tour that includes access to the historic Operations Building, the Firehouse Exhibit, and an elevator ride up the control tower — the pinnacle of the tour, complete with 360° views of the Pearl Harbor aviation battlefield from 168 ft high. Historic videos and pictures in the upper cab show the impact and aftermath of the attack that provide a new understanding of the “day which will live in infamy.” More than 2,400 Americans died in the December 7, 1941, attack that pulled the U.S. into World War II. The improved project includes park improvements, refurbishment of the historic elevator and access from the ground floor to the upper control cab. With funding from the Schoen family of U-Haul^© and mechanical expertise from Otis, the elevator system was repaired and updated to both preserve the historic elements of the 1940s-era equipment and ensure safe operations. The elevator will allow visitors to ascend 15 stories to the upper cab exhibit and observation deck. The Ford Island Control Tower is set to officially open on May 30, 2022, in honor of Memorial Day. Advance tickets are available. More information can be found at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.