She witnessed the end of World War II. Now 65 years later the Battleship Missouri has undergone a massive makeover, helping to preserve this floating piece of history.
It took three months and $18 million and now the Mighty Mo is in better shape than any other historic ship in the world.
As some say, "She's like a new penny."
Hundreds came to see and step foot on a piece of history Saturday.
The USS Missouri was re-opened to the public after 12 weeks in drydock.
"You've been reading about it as a kid, to actually see it is going to be something," said Bruce Shutts, a visitor from Boston.
Especially now that the Mighty Mo is fit to fight back the aging process.
"This is the first of all the historic ships in the country to go through this massive kind of renovation," said Memorial President Michael Carr.
In October, the 887-foot battleship was moved to the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
"Missouri last battleship ever launched in the world, last battleship decommission in the world," said Carr.
Man and machine power worked to refurbish the hull, add a fresh coat of paint and restore the world famous teak wood deck.
It's where Japan signed the surrender treaty to end World War II.
"To be here with the Missouri 65 years later after the surrender on the decks of the Missouri and the Tokyo Bay is a honor," said Shipyard Commander Captain Greg Thomas.
Just yards away from where the war began, and the USS Arizona Memorial now rests.
"Quite a place we came to Hawaii to do a lot of vacationing but didn't want to miss this," said Shutts.
Students from the Waiakea Intermediate Ukulele band actually got to stay aboard the ship this weekend.
"And now they know a part of our American history, world history that probably forgotten if they read it in a book, but has meaning because they saw it themselves," said Governor Linda Lingle.
Renovations to the Battleship Missouri were completed on time and on budget.
