Duluth in Saint Louis County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden

July 28, 2022

1. Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden Marker (Side 1)

Inscription.

Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden. . The garden celebrates Duluth's sister city relationship with Ohara Isumi-City, Japan ダルース市日本の平和の鐘. The Peace Bell. During World War II, the Japanese government instructed villages to donate metal to be melted down for ammunition. Ohara Isumi-City dismantled their city's prized Buddhist temple bell. By the end of the war, the bell was still intact and a naval crew from the USS Duluth carried it to Duluth and it became a gift to the City., In 1954, the ancient Buddhist temple bell was returned to Ohara Isumi-City. In 1993 Ohara Isumi-City presented Duluth with a replica of the bell, which now resides in this park., The Japanese Garden. The Japanese garden was created to commemorate 20 years of friendship with Duluth's Sister City. The garden's design is based on Japanese gardens of past centuries., There are four basic elements to a tradition Japanese garden: stones, water, plants and manmade objects. The structure of this garden is based on natural rock formations and stones arranged to visually represent streams, ponds and lakes. The lake is actually dry, but it is filled with small rocks raked to look like waves., The manufactured objects include a covered entryway, a bridge, two stone lanterns, a stone pagoda and a few stone benches, which encourage walkers to linger and reflect., In 2005, a group of citizens from Duluth and Ohara (now Isumi City), Japan proposed to honor the Sister Cities relationships between our two cities by creating an authentic environment for the Peace Bell placed in Duluth's Enger Park in 1994. Matthew Daily for the SAS Associates from Duluth designed the garden., The garden design was based on traditional elements of a Japanese garden-stone, water, plantings and man-made objects , traditions rooted in centuries. Yet, this garden is organic to northern Minnesota. The bedrock and the boulders of Enger Park give the garden its structure, the dry stream and the raked lake (Zen garden) represent water waves and ripples. The manufactured objects include a traditional covered entryway, a bridge, stone lantern, a pagoda and stone benches. As you stroll through the garden, take time to reflect in peaceful contemplation and discover each element as it presents itself to you from a different view point., The Duluth Sister Cities Japanese Peach Bell Garden Committee, the City of Duluth Grounds Department workers and many volunteers dedicated countless hours to the construction and maintenance of the garden., The garden was dedicated in August of 2010 in commemoration of the 20 years as Sister Cities with Ohara-Isumi City, Japan., From the dedication:

"It will take many years for...(the garden) to grow and mature, to change, and to be changed. But through the years we will gather the fruits of our labor: learn about tradition, reflect on the past, find strength for the future, discover who we are, honor each other, and celebrate peace." Irina Haller, August 20, 2010.

Donors. City of Duluth Isumi City International Exchange Association, Japan Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation Pachel Foundation in Memory of Ed Haller Gary and Marcia Doty Paula Tsufis Duluth Flower and Garden Society and Duluth Garden Clubs Patricia O'Day and John Grabowski in memory of Audrey and Bob Rynor Friends of the garden in memory of Ed Haller Citizens of Duluth

The garden celebrates Duluth's sister city relationship with Ohara Isumi-City, Japan
ダルース市日本の平和の鐘
The Peace Bell During World War II, the Japanese government instructed villages to donate metal to be melted down for ammunition. Ohara Isumi-City dismantled their city's prized Buddhist temple bell. By the end of the war, the bell was still intact and a naval crew from the USS Duluth carried it to Duluth and it became a gift to the City.

In 1954, the ancient Buddhist temple bell was returned to Ohara Isumi-City. In 1993 Ohara Isumi-City presented Duluth with a replica of the bell, which now resides in this park.

The Japanese Garden The Japanese garden was created to commemorate 20 years of friendship with Duluth's Sister City. The garden's design is based on Japanese gardens of past centuries.

There are four basic elements to a tradition Japanese garden: stones, water, plants and manmade objects. The structure of this garden is based on natural rock formations and stones arranged to visually represent streams, ponds and lakes. The lake is actually dry, but it is filled with small rocks raked to look like waves.

The manufactured objects include a covered entryway, a bridge, two stone lanterns, a stone pagoda and a few stone benches, which encourage walkers to linger and reflect.

In 2005, a group of citizens from Duluth and Ohara (now Isumi City), Japan proposed to honor the Sister Cities relationships between our two cities by creating an authentic environment for the Peace Bell placed in Duluth's Enger Park in 1994. Matthew Daily for the SAS Associates from Duluth designed the garden.

The garden design was based on traditional elements of a Japanese garden-stone, water, plantings and man-made objects — traditions rooted in centuries. Yet, this garden is organic to northern Minnesota. The bedrock and the boulders of Enger Park give the garden its structure, the dry stream and the raked lake (Zen garden) represent water waves and ripples. The manufactured objects include a traditional covered entryway, a bridge, stone lantern, a pagoda and stone benches. As you stroll through the garden, take time to reflect in peaceful contemplation and discover each element as it presents itself to you from a different view point.

The Duluth Sister Cities Japanese Peach Bell Garden Committee, the City of Duluth Grounds Department workers and many volunteers dedicated countless hours to the construction and maintenance of the garden.

The garden was dedicated in August of 2010 in commemoration of the 20 years as Sister Cities with Ohara-Isumi City, Japan.

From the dedication:

"It will take many years for...(the garden) to grow and mature, to change, and to be changed. But through the years we will gather the fruits of our labor: learn about tradition, reflect on the past, find strength for the future, discover who we are, honor each other, and celebrate peace."
Irina Haller, August 20, 2010.

Donors City of Duluth
Isumi City International Exchange Association, Japan
Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
Pachel Foundation in Memory of Ed Haller
Gary and Marcia Doty
Paula Tsufis
Duluth Flower & Garden Society and Duluth Garden Clubs
Patricia O'Day and John Grabowski in memory of Audrey and Bob Rynor
Friends of the garden in memory of Ed Haller
Citizens of Duluth

Erected by Duluth

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Sister Cities International.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Peace • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1954.

Location. 46° 46.6′ N, 92° 7.441′ W. Marker is in Duluth, Minnesota, in Saint Louis County. It can be reached from Enger Tower Drive 0.2 miles east of Hank Jensen Drive. Located in Enger Park in Duluth. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1601 Enger Tower Dr, Duluth MN 55806, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region

and in the Iron Range.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden Marker <i>(Side 2)</i> image. Click for full size.

July 28, 2022

2. Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden Marker (Side 2)

walking distance of this marker: Ohara Peace Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Rotary Club of Duluth 100th Anniversary (within shouting distance of this marker); Rotary International's Four Way Test (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rotary Club of Duluth Vocational Service Projects (about 300 feet away); Enger Observation Tower (about 300 feet away); Rotary Club of Duluth Club Service Activities (about 300 feet away); Rotary Club of Duluth Community Service (about 300 feet away); Rotary Club of Duluth New Generation Service (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Duluth.

Other markers no longer nearby. Japanese Peace Bell Garden (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden (has been replaced with this marker).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden Marker image. Click for full size.

July 28, 2022

3. Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden Marker

July 28, 2022

4. Duluth Japanese Peace Bell Garden Marker

The Peace Bell image. Click for full size.

July 28, 2022

5. The Peace Bell

The Japanese Garden image. Click for full size.

July 28, 2022

6. The Japanese Garden

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2022. This page has been viewed 5,221 times since then and 868 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 24, 2022.