Hiroshima Peace Memorial
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| Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)* |
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| State Party |  Japan |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | vi |
| Reference | 775 |
| Region** | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
| * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome (Japanese: 原爆ドーム Genbaku Dōmu), in Hiroshima, Japan, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The building serves as a memorial to the people who died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.
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[edit] History
The building was originally designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel. It was completed in April 1915, and the new building was named the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition (HMI). It was formally opened to the public in August that year. In 1921 the name was changed to the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall, and again in 1933 to the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall.
[edit] Atomic bombing
Having slightly missed the original target (the distinctive "T"-shaped Aioi Bridge), at 8:15 on August 6, 1945 the first nuclear bomb to be used in war detonated almost directly above the dome (the actual center of the blast was 490 feet (150 m) away and 1,968 feet (600 m) above ground).
The Genbaku Dome was originally scheduled to be demolished with the rest of the ruins, but the fact that it was mostly intact delayed these plans. As Hiroshima was rebuilt around the dome, it became a subject of controversy; some locals wanted it torn down, while others wanted to preserve it as a memorial of the bombing.[1]
China had reservations regarding the confirmation of the memorial as a World Heritage Site and the delegate of the United States to the World Heritage Committee dissociated himself from the decision. China cited the possibility that the monument could be used to downplay the fact that the victim countries of Japan's aggression suffered the greatest losses of life during the war, while the United States claimed that having a memorial to a "war site" would omit the necessary historical context.[2]. In December 1996 the A-bomb Dome was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List based on the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
In 1966 Hiroshima City declared to preserve the now termed "A-bomb Dome" indefinitely. Funds were sought locally and internationally. To date, the A-bomb Dome has undergone two preservation projects.
[edit] Panorama
[edit] Gallery
 Products Exhibition Hall in its original shape (photo taken sometime in 1921–33) |
 Hall, taken from Motoyasu Bridge around the same time. |
 Citizens of the city pass by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial on their way to a memorial ceremony on August 6, 2004 |
 The dome, photo taken from the southwest side |
 Distant view of the dome; shot is taken from the Aioi bridge |
 Hiroshima Peace Memorial, viewed from the Peace Park |
 Side view of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial |
 Close up of the dome |
 Dome with plaque |
 Peace Dome, then and now |
 A-Bomb Dome in 2007 |
 A-bomb dome taken at night |
 A-Bomb Dome at Night |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Hiroshima Peace Museum
- ^ WH Committee: Report of the 20th Session, Merida 1996
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) |
Coordinates: 34°23′57.9″N 132°27′18.3″E / 34.399417°N 132.455083°E
