Hiroshima
6-15-2012 3:22:23 PM
Friday, June 15th
Today, Chris and I went to the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Museum. This museum remembers the victims of the atomic bomb. They had displays that told the actions leading to the event, lists of the 140,000 victims next to their pictures, pieces of the destruction, and even testimonials from survivors. It reminded me of the Holocaust Museum.
A-Bomb Dome
When the atomic bomb went off over Hiroshima at the end of WWII, only a few buildings were left (somewhat) standing. The few that were left were made of concrete and reinforced steel beams. The insides were incinerated, like the rest of everything in the city. The A-Bomb Dome has been preserved for future generations to see what happened and know the truth. It was formerly the government’s Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall, which was the building that served to promote Hiroshima’s industries.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The most disturbing effects of the bomb were not the mangled possessions or the blown apart city, but the effect that the bomb had on the inhabitants of the city. If you managed to live through the explosion, then you had to survive the massive fires that broke out all over the city. With the combined heat from the bomb and fires, people had horrible afflictions, ranging from terrible burns that seared the patterns of their kimonos and yukatas into their skins to burns that literally caused their skin to start melting off their bodies, as seen in the picture below. If you managed to survive this, it was very likely you would die by radiation poisoning, contaminated water, or cancer.
Chisun Hotel
Our hotel. This pleasant hotel was close to the hypocenter, A-Bomb Dome, and Peace Memorial Park.
A-Bomb Dome
When the atomic bomb went off over Hiroshima at the end of WWII, only a few buildings were left (somewhat) standing. The few that were left were made of concrete and reinforced steel beams. The insides were incinerated, like the rest of everything in the city. The A-Bomb Dome has been preserved for future generations to see what happened and know the truth.
A-Bomb Dome
Another view of the A-Bomb Dome. It was formerly the government’s Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, which was the building that served to promote Hiroshima’s industries.
A-Bomb Dome
The entryway inside the building.
A-Bomb Dome
Another view of inside the building.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
This is the Peace Memorial park, where you can see the museum and the main monument in front of it.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Looking through the monument you can see the A-Bomb Dome.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The memorial monument for those who died.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
A pocket watch that survived the blast. Notice the time on the watch.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The plaque below the pocket watch. Many items in the museum had plaques that told what the item was, who was last carrying it, and how far from the hypocenter (bomb explosion) they were.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Another watch, stopped at the same time the pocket watch was stopped- the time of impact.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Another memorial for those who died. It is a fountain that is made to look like a clock face with the time 8:15.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
What Hiroshima looked like before the bomb…
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
…and what it looked like after the destruction.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The red ball is where the bomb exploded. There is now a plastic surgery center under the exact spot.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
With the combined heat from the bomb and fires, people had horrible afflictions, ranging fromm terrible burns that seared the patterns of thier kimonos and yukatas into their skins to burns that literally caused their skin to start melting off their bodies, as seen in the picture above.
