News Release

Manhattan Project National Historical Park Hosting Days of Peace and Remembrance in observance of atomic bombings of Japan

Date: July 16, 2020
Contact: Wendy Berhman, [phone]

DENVER — Manhattan Project National Historical Park will observe the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan in the waning days of World War II in 1945. As a result of COVID-19, the park has tailored the commemoration events to provide virtual activities to honor these significant events in world history and reflect on the many wartime sacrifices and losses. The following online activities and events are scheduled:

Messages of Peace ( https://www.nps.gov/mapr/learn/historyculture/messages-of-peace.htm ) Manhattan Project National Historical Park is soliciting origami cranes with messages of peace from the public. This origami crane project provides an opportunity to amplify the voices for peace and will collect and share messages of peace from people around the world. The messages of peace will be shared on social media and will be archived in a time capsule to be opened on the 100^th anniversary of the bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

75^th Commemoration Webpage ( https://www.nps.gov/mapr/learn/historyculture/75th-commemoration.htm ) Manhattan Project National Historical park has developed a webpage with content commemorating events and will include:

•  articles about the Manhattan Project and related 75^th topics,
• a timeline of key events leading up to the Trinity Test and the bombings, an opportunity to virtually ring the International Peace Bell in Oak Ridge (http://exploreoakridge.com/international-friendship-bell), and
• a pre-recorded ranger program about Sadako and the symbolism of the origami crane.

The park will also share stories about the events of 1945 on its social media platforms for those who want to learn more.   

The scientific research and wartime actions of the Manhattan Project have profoundly shaped the last 75 years of human history.  Please join the National Park Service in remembering these world-changing events and sharing personal messages of peace.

The uranium fueled atomic bomb “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, on Aug. 6, 1945, at 8:16 am local time in Japan, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of people. It is one of only two times an atomic weapon was intentionally used on a human population. A second atomic weapon was dropped over Nagasaki, Japan, on Aug. 9, 1945, also killing tens of thousands. World War II came to an end less than a week later with the surrender of Japan on Aug. 15, 1945. The surrender became official on Sept. 2, 1945, 6 years and 1 day after World War II began when Germany invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939.  

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www.nps.gov/mapr

 

Formally established in November 2015 via a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Energy and the National Park Service to preserve portions of three World War II sites (Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Hanford, Washington) where the United States developed the first atomic weapons, the park marks the history of the people, science, events, and controversy associated with the creation of the atomic bomb in the top-secret effort known as the Manhattan Project. Under the agreement, the National Park Service and the Department of Energy jointly manage and administer the park.

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.