World Peace Bell (Newport, Kentucky) facts for kids

World Peace Bell

The World Peace Bell is a giant bell created to celebrate peace around the world. It rang for the very first time on January 1, 2000, right at the start of the new century. This special bell isn't connected to any single group or religion; it's meant for all people everywhere. Teams from the United States and France worked together to make it happen.

The bell was officially dedicated on December 31, 1999, in its home city of Newport, Kentucky. This happened just before it rang in the new year. To show its message of world peace, the bell has words from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights carved into it. It also features engravings that mark important events from the last thousand years.

This bell is a traditional Western-style bell that swings to ring. It weighs a massive 30,000 kilograms (66,000 pounds) and is 3.7 meters (12 feet) wide. For several years, until 2006, it was the largest working swinging bell ever made! While it's the biggest bell dedicated to peace internationally, it's different from the many Japanese peace bells found around the globe.

How the World Peace Bell Was Made

Planning a Giant Bell

Back in 1997, there was a big plan to create this bell near Newport, Kentucky. The idea was to build a huge tower, about 1,400 feet tall, for the bell to hang in. This tower would also have 85 smaller bells, with the World Peace Bell being the largest. At first, people called it "The Millennium Bell." Later, the plans changed to a smaller tower and a museum next to the bell.

Building the Bell in France

The Verdin Company helped manage the project in the U.S. On December 11, 1998, the bell was cast, or poured, in Nantes, France. This date was special because it was the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. French bell-making experts from Fonderie Paccard in Annecy carefully watched over the process. A master bellmaker named Pierre Paccard, along with his sons, led this huge effort.

The Bell's Big Journey

The World Peace Bell rang for the first time in public in Nantes, France, on March 20, 1999. After that, it took a long journey by sea, lasting about a month and a half, to the U.S. port of New Orleans, Louisiana. There, the bell was part of the city's Fourth of July celebrations.

From New Orleans, the bell traveled by barge up the Mississippi River and Ohio River. It stopped in 14 cities along the way, finally arriving in northern Kentucky on August 1, 1999. Its arrival happened during the 1999 Tall Stacks Festival, a popular event along the Ohio River.

Ringing in the New Millennium

The bell was first rung by swinging in the U.S. at midnight on January 1, 2000. It chimed twelve times, and its sound could be heard for about 25 miles (40 kilometers)!

The part that hits the bell to make it ring is called a striker. This striker was made from a special type of cast iron in Cincinnati, Ohio. This special iron helps make sure the striker doesn't damage the bell when it hits the outside edge. The striker also allows the bell to be chimed without needing to swing the entire bell.

The Bell's Home and Future

The bell tower, the bell itself, and most other parts of the Millennium Monument were made by companies near Newport, Kentucky. The World Peace Bell Center used to be located at 425 York Street in Newport.

However, in May 2024, city officials announced that the bell would be moved from its York Street spot. This was to make room for new buildings like a hotel and offices. On August 1, 2024, workers carefully moved the bell to a temporary location. City leaders hope to find a new permanent home for the bell along the riverfront in the future.

See also

• Japanese Peace Bell