Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome,this monument is the preserved remains of a building damaged by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima,Japan,by US forces on 6 August 1945,towards the end of World War II. This bomb killed over 70-80,000 people instantly,and left many more injured and dying. Originally built in 1915 as a commercial exhibition hall,the decision to preserve the ruined building was taken in 1969. In 1996,it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site,and it now forms part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (opened in 1954) |