Visiting Pearl Harbor is a deeply moving experience that offers a solemn window into American history. Located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, the National Memorial honors the lives lost during the surprise attack on December 7, 1941. The focal point of the visit is the USS Arizona Memorial, a striking white structure built directly over the sunken remains of the battleship. As visitors look down into the water, they can still see the rusted hull resting on the harbor floor—and occasionally spot the "black tears of the Arizona," small drops of oil that slowly leak from the ship to this day. Standing above the shrine room, where the names of 1,177 fallen crewmen are carved into marble, brings a powerful sense of reverence and remembrance.