Revisiting History at Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Museum

Iconic record of the horrors of war

Larry Knipfing May 17, 2015 - 1 min read

Large photo of the explosion greets us at the entrance of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Survivors: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

What the surrounding countryside looked like after the bombing: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Complete devastation for as far as the eye can see: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

A recreation of what it might have felt like: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

A geta sandal found among the ruins: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

A tricycle found among the ruins: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Model of the city of Hiroshima showing the bomb's epicenter: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Victims of the bombing: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Visitors at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Collection of photos of the city in ruins: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Photo of the destruction and personal items found among the ruins: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

In the aftermath of the bombing: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Notice

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, a <a href="https://www.1future.jp/future_memory/#3d-portrait-of-a-museum">virtual tour</a> of the museum has been released, as well as a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYtHS0reRuk">Peace Park tour</a> from the day of the anniversary event.

Latest on Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Many people who visit Japan make a pilgrimage of sorts to this museum in Hiroshima. I visited the museum 30 years ago, and then once again very recently.

The museum itself has become a bit more sophisticated over the years, doing a superb job (if I can even say that) of showing how horrible it was for the people of Hiroshima to experience the first-ever atomic bombing. War is, of course, hell for all that experience it. And this is how I approached the viewing of this museum. It is not a pleasant experience, but is not intended to be.

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Larry Knipfing @larry.knipfing

Born on Long Island, New York in 1958, I have spent the last 30 years of my life living in Japan, and enjoying every minute of it! I especially love photography, and Japan is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world to photograph! My other love is fiction writing and I have pub...