Ruin of Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall | |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Location | Japan |
Criteria | vi |
Reference | 775 |
Coordinates | 34°23′44″N 132°27′13″E / 34.395472222222°N 132.45352777778°E |
Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
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Coordinates: 34°23′43.7″N 132°27′12.7″E / 34.395472°N 132.453528°E
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (広島平和記念碑? Hiroshima Heiwa Kinenhi), commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム? Genbaku Dōmu) is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The ruin serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6 1945. Over 70,000 people were killed instantly, and another 70,000 suffered fatal injuries from the radiation.
The Product Exhibition Hall building was originally designed by the Czech architect Jan Letzel. The design included a distinctive dome at the highest part of the building. It was completed in April 1915 and 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. The building was located in the large business district next to the Aioi Bridge and was primarily used for arts and educational exhibitions.