OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (Sept. 20, 2018) – The city of Oak Ridge celebrated the dedication of its new Peace Pavilion, providing a permanent home for the International Friendship Bell. The bronze bell, cast in 1993, symbolizes reconciliation and scientific cooperation.
Originally created by Japanese artist Sotetsu Ikeda, the bell represents Oak Ridge’s transition from its role in the Manhattan Project to a center for peaceful innovation. The pavilion project involved collaboration between the City of Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and IACMI – The Composites Institute.
Weighing more than 8,000 pounds, the bell features designs of the sun, moon and doves, representing harmony. The new pavilion, built with durable composite materials, ensures public access for years to come.
Annual events at the site include bell-ringing ceremonies on Peace Day and other occasions. Officials say the space serves as both a historical marker and a forward-looking symbol of global unity through science.
