Eighty-five years ago, the attack on Pearl Harbor pulled the United States into World War II. On Monday, December 7, 2026, The National WWII Museum in New Orleans marks the anniversary with its Pearl Harbor 85th Anniversary Commemoration, held in the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center.
The program runs from 11:50 AM to 12:50 PM Central. At 11:55 AM, the exact moment the attack began in Hawaii, the room goes quiet for a moment of silence. A bell-ringing ceremony follows to honor the more than 2,400 Americans killed that morning.
Author and historian Geoffrey Wawro gives the keynote. He will speak on the attack, the war in the Pacific that followed, and why Pearl Harbor still matters to Americans today.
This one is for veterans, Gold Star families, active duty service members, and anyone who wants to stand for those who were lost. The event is free and open to the public. You can attend in person at the Museum or watch online, and the Museum asks guests to register either way.
Plan on getting there early. The Museum sits in the Warehouse District, and the pavilion is the home of the Museum’s aircraft collection, so it is a fitting room for this one. If you are staying for lunch, show your Museum button that day for 20 percent off at Provisions and Café Normandie in The Higgins Hotel.
When: Monday, December 7, 2026, 11:50 AM to 12:50 PM CT
Where: US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, The National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Cost: Free. Registration requested for in-person and online attendance.
Host: The National WWII Museum
Pearl Harbor Day is observed across the country. See the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day observance in Honolulu, browse all Veterans events, or submit your local ceremony to Frontline.
Event contact: The National WWII Museum, Veteran Programs, veteranprograms@nationalww2museum.org. Official page: nationalww2museum.org. Register: Pearl Harbor 85th registration.
