Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Have you ever thought about visiting the place where an atomic bomb dropped? Hiroshima, a city devastated in World War II, has become a major tourist spot with a beautiful Peace Memorial Museum and Park. In this article, we'll get to know some details about this Hiroshima city park and museum that turned from the ashes into a beautiful city.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in Japan, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. In the Park you will find the famous atomic bomb dome (genbaku dome), a construction that survived the bomb. In addition, the park is full of monuments and a peace museum where you can travel back in time.

The ruin serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. More than 70,000 people died instantly and another 70,000 suffered fatal radiation injuries.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Bombs at dawn in Hiroshima 

At 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, Little Boy, the first atomic bomb, was used in war. She was dropped by the United States Army Air Forces from a B-29 bomber. The force of the atomic bomb effectively wiped out the city of Hiroshima, Japan.

Within 43 seconds of the fall, Little Boy blasted the city, missed target by 240 meters. Aimed at the Aioi Bridge, the bomb exploded directly over Shima Hospital, which was very close to the Genbaku Dome. As the explosion was almost directly overhead, the building managed to maintain its shape. The building's vertical columns were able to withstand the vertical force of the blast, and parts of the concrete and brick exterior walls remained intact.

The center of the explosion occurred 150 meters horizontally and 600 meters vertically from the Dome. Everyone inside the building was killed instantly. In December 1996, the Genbaku Summit was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, based on the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Its inclusion in the UNESCO list was based on its survival from a destructive force (atomic bomb), the first use of nuclear weapons on a human population and its representation as a symbol of peace. The dome was originally built in 1915 by the Theco Jan Letzel, where the Hiroshima Prefectural Trade Exhibition was located.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

The Tsuru Statue and Legend

A child named Sadako Sasaki was hit by radioactive rain from the Hiroshima atomic bomb, and this resulted in leukemia. On August 3, 1955, Chizuko Hamamoto, a friend of Sadako's, visited her in the hospital and made her a origami of a Tsuru.

Her friend told her a Japanese legend where whoever makes a thousand origami Tsurus is entitled to a wish granted by the gods. Sadako went on to do Tsurus every day with the desire to heal and come back to life and also asked for peace from humanity.

Sadako managed to make 646 paper Tsurus and after her death, her friends made 354 more, to reach 1000. Sadako died on October 15, 1955, her friends erected a monument in her memory. In the Peace Memorial Park you can find written on the monument: “This is our cry, this is our prayer. Peace on earth!". This legend and story moved and reached the whole world!

Throughout the year you will find many people visiting this monument in his memory and taking with them several origami cranes. This statue was made not only in memory of Sadako but for all the children who died from the atomic bomb.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Despite all the sadness over the deaths of so many people, the reconstruction of Hiroshima City is impressive. The Museum makes us understand the total devastation that occurred with the atomic bomb. You find objects and belongings of people hit by the bombs and even the pieces and the bomb capsule.

In addition, the museum offers an accessory for you to follow through audio in English, all the objects of the museum. The museum also has other exhibits, 3D films, testimonials from survivors and photos of the event. The scenes are strong and cause lumps in the throat, be well prepared.

In addition to photographic records, there are wreckage, models and explanations about the bomb and the effects of radiation on the human body. The various recordings are from personal accounts of survivors, victims' stories in detail with name, surname, age, where he was at the time of the explosion and the complications that happened.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum

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Other points of the Peace Memorial Park

In addition to the dome, main museum and the statue of the children mentioned in this article, there are numerous monuments and scriptures in memory of those who died as a result of the atomic bomb. There is a monument that contains the ashes of over 70,000 unidentified dead.

The park reflects all the city's efforts to start over and its deep respect for the lives taken and lessons from the tragedy. The purpose of this Park is to remember the horrors caused by the atomic bomb so that this never happens again, as well as a memorial to the victims of this war that total more than 166,000 people.

The park is full of gardens, sculptures, tombs and small memorial buildings that concentrate the memory of one of the fateful dates in the history of the world. The park also has some cenotaphs, the flame of peace, the gates of peace and the bells of peace. On the morning of August 6, the lantern ceremony takes place on the Motoyasu River.

The Hiroshima Peace Park Rest House is another bombed building located in the park. Originally the Taishoya Kimonos Store was located there in March 1929. The only thing that survives is the basement and a 47-year-old man.

When visiting Hiroshima you must visit this peace memorial park and its beautiful museum. It's amazing to see the city recover and be moved by all the events recorded. Have you ever had the chance to visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park? What was your experience? We appreciate the comments and shares.

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