The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
In 1952, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was commissioned to serve as a reminder of the past and as a center dedicated to a future of lasting peace. Since it's opening in 1955, the park has seen over 70 million visitors. The park is meant to stand as an everlasting symbol of peace, and acts as a reminder of the dangers and horrors of war, which are evident in its numerous monuments laid out throughout the park.
Monuments
The Atomic Bomb Dome
After the bomb, the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall was one of the only buildings in the immediate blast area to avoid complete destruction. As time passed, the building eventually earned the name "Atomic Bomb Dome." It has since served as a focal point for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. As the skeleton of this building stands in contrast to the modern construction in it's surrounding area, it serves as a reminder of the destruction and devastation that fell upon the city that has since been rebuilt.
Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims
Officially called the Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace, the Cenotaph was constructed with the desire that Hiroshima would stand as a reminder of war and as a monument for peace. The Cenotaph's cement roof is modeled to look like a Japanese ancient clay house, with the purpose to shelter the souls of the victims from rain. In the center of the monument is a chest containing a record of all victims of the bombing. It has more than 300,000 names and is added to every year. It is also inscribed with the phrase "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil," another reminder to never again repeat the horrors of nuclear war.
Officially called the Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace, the Cenotaph was constructed with the desire that Hiroshima would stand as a reminder of war and as a monument for peace. The Cenotaph's cement roof is modeled to look like a Japanese ancient clay house, with the purpose to shelter the souls of the victims from rain. In the center of the monument is a chest containing a record of all victims of the bombing. It has more than 300,000 names and is added to every year. It is also inscribed with the phrase "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil," another reminder to never again repeat the horrors of nuclear war.
Children's Peace Monument
On May 5th, 1958, this monument was dedicated to Sasaki Sadako, who was exposed to radiation from the bomb when she was two years old and later developed leukemia and tragically passed away. She folded paper cranes during her battle with the illness in the hopes that if she folded 1,000 of them, her wish of being cured would come true. Her story sparked a national campaign in which schools across the country raised money to build a monument dedicated to Sadako and the other thousands of children who died as a result of the atomic bomb.
On May 5th, 1958, this monument was dedicated to Sasaki Sadako, who was exposed to radiation from the bomb when she was two years old and later developed leukemia and tragically passed away. She folded paper cranes during her battle with the illness in the hopes that if she folded 1,000 of them, her wish of being cured would come true. Her story sparked a national campaign in which schools across the country raised money to build a monument dedicated to Sadako and the other thousands of children who died as a result of the atomic bomb.
Flame of Peace
This monument, unveiled in 1964, was designed to resemble hands, outstretched towards the sky. The monument holds a flame that has remained lit since its unveiling. This lit flame symbolizes a commitment to abolish the use of nuclear weapons as the flame will burn "until the day when all such weapons shall have disappeared from the earth."
This monument, unveiled in 1964, was designed to resemble hands, outstretched towards the sky. The monument holds a flame that has remained lit since its unveiling. This lit flame symbolizes a commitment to abolish the use of nuclear weapons as the flame will burn "until the day when all such weapons shall have disappeared from the earth."