In Angels Gate Park in the San Pedro neighborhood of Los Angeles is a massive bronze bell housed in an impressive traditional, Korean-style stone pavilion. The entire structure lies within the section of the park that is commonly referred to as the "Korean-American Peace Park" by LA locals. The Republic of Korea gifted the bell to the American people to celebrate the bicentennial of the United States as well as to honor American veterans of the Korean War.
Philip Ahn, a Korean-American actor, helped plan and execute the erection of the structure which was dedicated in early October of 1976 and became a Los Angeles Cultural-Historic Monument in 1978. The bell, one of the largest in the world, is made of over 17 tons of copper and tin with some other metals such as gold and silver added to the alloy for tone quality. The 7 ½-foot-wide and 12-foot-high bell averages eight inches thick and cost the Korean people nearly $500,000 dollars to build.
On the outside of the bell are four pairs of figures depicting the Goddess of Liberty with her torch (similar to the Statue of Liberty) and a Korean spirit. Each of the Korean spirits holds a different Korean national symbol: a Yin-Yang, a branch of the rose of Sharon as Korea's national flower, a branch of laurel symbolizing victory, and a dove symbolizing peace. The bell has no official clapper but is rung by striking on the outside with a wooden log. The bell is struck four times a year: on New Year's Eve, the Fourth of July, April 15th (the national independence day of Korea), and every September to celebrate Constitution Week.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 10am to 6pm daily
- Admission:
- Free
- Contact:
- Location: 3601 S Gaffey Street San Pedro, CA
- Phone: 310-548-7705 (Angels Gate Park)
