Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Ruin of Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall
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| Location | Hiroshima, Japan |
| Criteria | Cultural: vi |
| Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム (Genbaku Dōmu)), stands in the city of Hiroshima, Japan. It is a key part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. In 1996, UNESCO recognized this dome as a World Heritage Site.
The dome is actually the remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall. It was saved as a powerful reminder of the many people who lost their lives. This happened during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The bomb instantly killed about 70,000 people. Another 70,000 people died later from the effects of radiation.
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History of the Building
The building was designed by a Czech architect named Jan Letzel. It was finished in April 1915. When it first opened in August of that year, it was called the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition.
Later, its name changed a few times. In 1921, it became the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall. Then, in 1933, it was renamed the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall.
The Atomic Bombing
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 AM, the first atomic bomb used in war exploded. It detonated almost directly above this building. Everyone inside the hall died instantly.
However, the building itself was not completely destroyed. This was because the main force of the explosion went downwards. There was less sideways force right under where the bomb exploded.
After the War
After the war, city leaders first thought about tearing the building down. But they decided not to, because it was not as badly damaged as other buildings. Some people wanted to remove it, while others wanted to keep it as a memorial.
The city of Hiroshima was rebuilt around the ruined dome. In 1966, the city officially announced its plan to keep the building. As of July 2011, two special construction projects have helped keep the Dome from falling apart.
In December 1996, UNESCO added the A-Bomb Dome to its World Heritage List. Not everyone agreed with this decision. The United States did not support it. China felt that the monument might take attention away from countries that suffered greatly from Japan during the war. Many more people died in those countries because of Japanese attacks. The United States also said that a memorial to a war site might not tell the full story of the bombing.
Gallery
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Products Exhibition Hall in its original condition (around 1921–1933)
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Hall, taken from Motoyasu Bridge (around 1921–1933)
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The dome, photo taken from the southwest side
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View of the dome taken from the Aioi bridge
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Close up of the dome
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Dome with commemorative plaque
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Peace Dome, then and now
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Origami cranes
Images for kids
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Nighttime photograph, 1921
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Citizens of the city pass by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial on their way to a memorial ceremony on 6 August 2004
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Side view of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial
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Genbaku Dome in 2007
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Genbaku Dome at night
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Genbaku Dome at night
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Hiroshima dome as seen from the memorial park
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Genbaku Dome in October 2015 (HDR Image)
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Overcast in the spring (May 2017)
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Origami cranes at Hiroshima Peace Memorial
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Genbaku Dome in moonlight (November 2018)
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Atomic Bomb Dome pictured in 2020, 75 years after the bombing
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Genbaku Dome seen from Orizuru Tower in 2019
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Related Pages
See also
In Spanish: Monumento de la Paz de Hiroshima para niños
