Timeline on the Terrace, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

About The Entry

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum opened Timeline on the Terrace, a new immersive exhibit located atop the historic Ford Island Operations Building. Set on the newly created Rooftop Terrace, the experience offers visitors a powerful new perspective on the events of December 7, 1941, combining audio, visual, and tactile elements to deepen understanding of this pivotal moment in American history.

Designed to complement the iconic Ford Island Control Tower, the exhibit invites visitors to take in sweeping panoramic views of Ford Island and its surrounding landmarks. Interpretive reader rails guide guests through a detailed timeline of the attack, identifying key locations and aircraft involved while connecting the physical landscape to historical events. Viewfinders further enhance the experience by bringing distant Oahu landmarks into focus, allowing visitors to imagine the sights and sounds of the attack.

Oral history benches provide places to sit and listen to firsthand accounts from Pearl Harbor survivors. These personal narratives give voice to the servicemen who experienced the attack and add emotional depth as visitors overlook the same terrain where events unfolded.

The Rooftop Terrace also highlights the history of the Aerological Tower, which served as a temporary control tower during the attack and later became the site of improvised defense efforts by Navy personnel. Today, the Operations Building stands as a memorial, honoring those lost and preserving the legacy of resilience and sacrifice at Pearl Harbor.