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Museum History

 
1945 August 6 An atomic bomb detonates at approximately 600 meters over downtown Hiroshima. Severely devastated, Hiroshima became the world’s first city to be attacked by an A-bomb.
1949
 
May The bill of the Peace Memorial City Construction Law is unanimously passed by both the House of Councilors and the House of Representatives.
August 6 The Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law is promulgated after receiving over 90 percent support of Hiroshima City voters. The proposal of Kenzo Tange Group wins the design competition for Peace Memorial Park.
September The A-bomb Reference Material Display Room (A-bomb Memorial Hall) is established in the Hiroshima Central Public Hall. This is the first public display of atomic bomb materials, including debris collected by Shogo Nagaoka, a local geological scientist.
1951 February The construction of the Peace Memorial Museum (now, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum) is launched. 
1955 August 6 Hiroshima municipal bylaw of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is issued.
August 24 The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum opens with Shogo Nagaoka as the first director of the museum.
The volunteer citizen group A-bomb Materials Collection Support Association (now, A-bomb Materials Preservation Association) leads an effort that involves many Hiroshima residents in the gathering of materials related to the atomic bombing.
1958 April-May The Hiroshima Restoration Exposition is held in and around the Peace Memorial Museum.
1975 August In order to repair the aging structure and keep the materials from deterioration, the first large-scale renovation is performed; the exhibition contents are redesigned.
1991 August A second renovation is performed; a large-sized model and big-screen videos are installed.
1994 June

Peace Memorial Hall is renovated to improve its functions of display and storage, and to provide more space for peace education. After its renovation, the Peace Memorial Hall reopens as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (East Building).

■Exhibition in the East Building…Hiroshima before the A-bombing, Development of the A-bomb and its dropping, Nuclear Age, Hiroshima’s Peace Promotion Activities
■Exhibition on the Main Building…Artifacts including belongings of the A-bomb Victims and Photographs.

2006 July The Main Building was designated as the first national important cultural properties among the architectural buildings which were constructed after World War II.
2012 November The Schmoe House opens as an annex of the Museum at 1-2-43 Eba-nihommatsu, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City.
2014 March Renovations to the East Building and Main Building are launched.
2017 April

The East Building reopens.

■The East Building comprises three exhibitions: “Introductory Exhibit,” “The Dangers of Nuclear Weapons,” and “Hiroshima History”.

2019 April

The Main Building reopens.

■The Main Building's exhibition--"the Reality of the Atomic Bombing" consists of two sections: "Devastation on August 6" and "Victims and Survivors."


Inside the Museum in the early days
Collection of Shogo Nagaoka