Top 7 Historical Sites Oahu You Absolutely Must Visit

Aside from the attack on Pearl Harbor, most people don’t know much about O’ahu’s history. Modern Hawaii’s history is rarely talked about, but both locals and tourists can learn about the 50th state’s past on O’ahu. Here are seven historical places on the island that you should see.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Memorial

This World War II memorial in Honolulu looks at the “Mighty Mo,” the nickname for the battleship USS Missouri. The battleship is important to the United States and the rest of the world because of its history. People can go on board the ship where the peace treaty that ended World War II was signed by the Allies and the Japanese Empire. Guests can also choose to explore the decks of the Missouri on their own or with the help of a knowledgeable historian.

ʻIolani Palace

Building, Museum

Iolani Palace is the only official royal residence in the U.S. It was built by King Kalkaua in downtown Honolulu in 1882. It is said to have had electricity, running water, and telephones years before the White House. After the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893, Iolani Palace became the capitol building. It stayed that way until 1978, when it underwent a lot of repairs and reopened as a museum. The “American Florentine” style of the palace was inspired by the King’s travels throughout Europe (a mixture of Italian Renaissance and Hawaiian architectural styles).

World War II Valor in the Pacific Memorial

Memorial

This memorial remembers the events of the Pacific War, such as Pearl Harbor and the internment of Japanese-American citizens. On December 7, 1941, which President Roosevelt called “a day that will live in infamy,” the Japanese attacked the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor and other military bases around the island without warning. The USS Arizona monument is a big part of the memorial because it shows where the bodies of 1,102 sailors and Marines who died on the battleship during the attack are buried. The memorial is built on top of the sunken ship, and people can get there by boat.

Hawaiian Railway Society

Museum, Train Station

In 1889, the O’ahu Railway and Land Company (OR&L) started running. It linked the sugar mills and plantations on the island’s west and north shores. Until the end of World War II and the decline of sugar operations, the trains were an important way to get around and talk. Parts of the original track and cars have been fixed up by the Hawaii Railway Society. This includes the founder of OR&L, Benjamin Dillingham’s private coach. From ‘Ewa to Kahe Point, visitors can ride the original railway line, which is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers views of the ocean and the chance to see dolphins.

Hawaiian Mission Houses

Museum

Hawaiian Mission Houses is a living museum in the middle of downtown Honolulu. The oldest wooden building in the state of Hawaii is in this National Historic Landmark. It was shipped from Boston around Cape Horn almost 200 years ago. Visitors learn about the American Protestant Missionaries who went to Hawaii and how they changed the lives of the local people. This adds more layers to the area’s complicated history.

Queen Emma Summer Palace

Museum

This house, which is also called Hnaiakamalama, was where Queen Emma, King Kamehameha IV, and their son Prince Albert Edward spent the summer. Some of the Queen’s personal items and royal artifacts are kept in this building, which is on the National Historic Registry and is surrounded by beautifully designed gardens. Hawaiian historians give visitors tours of the grounds and answer any questions they may have.

Hawaii’s Plantation Village

Museum

Around the middle of the 1800s, Hawaii had a lot more sugar plantations than it did before. People from Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, Okinawa, China, and the Philippines were hired because they were cheap and lived together. Visitors can learn about how the sugar industry changed Hawaii and see what life was like on a plantation.

Topic: Top 7 Historical Sites Oahu You Absolutely Must Visit

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By: Travel Pixy