The Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima is a relic of the first atomic bomb detonation of a civilian population. The bomb almost completed leveled the city. This building was one of the few places whose remnants were still standing.
It was original called the Products Exhibition Hall, and it was located in the center of Hiroshima's large business distinct. People used the hall to exhibit new art and educational products. One of the reasons much of the structure withstood the bombing was its combination steel and concrete construction. Many of the surrounding were not as reenforced as this one.
The hypocenter of the atomic bomb was nearly the same location. This was another reason why the structure still stood. The blast came from directly above only knocking out the interior floors and not the wall. The hypocenter itself was just around the corner on the side of the street.
I was really surprised how little reverance this location is given compared to the monument and park centered around the hypocenter in Nagasaki. The Hiroshima hypocenter just has a block of marble on the sidewalk with a plaque explaining it.
Carried to Hiroshima from Tinian Island by the Enola Gay, a U.S. Army B-29 Bomber, the first atomic bomb used in the history of humankind exploded approximately 600 meters above this spot. The city below was hit by heat rays of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 Celsius along with a blast wind and radiation. Most people in the area lost their lives instantly. The time was 8:15am, August 6th, 1945.
In 1945, when people started rebuilding Hiroshima, there were a lot of calls to tear down the remnants of the Products Exhibition Hall. But, there were just as many people who said it should stand as a symbol of peace and remembrance of the war. Those people won out, and with this symbol of peace, I suppose they didn't need to further extend a park to cover the hypocenter, especially when this location is in the middle of downtown.
Even in its current state, the building has withstood harsh weather from the occassional typhoon and various earthquakes, too. While it is a symbol or peace and remembrance, it is also a symbol of perseverance. Even becoming completely battered and destroyed, it still holds on.
Note: This post was made in Apr 2025 and back-dated to the time of the events
