• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

California Through My Lens

California Travel, Food, Hiking & Road Trips

  • Start Here
  • Explore
    • Beaches
    • Bizarre
    • Caves
    • Food
    • Hikes
    • Historical Structures
    • Natural Wonders
    • Waterfalls
  • Drive
    • El Camino Real
    • Highway 395
    • LA to Las Vegas
    • Pacific Coast Highway
    • Route 66
  • National Parks
    • Channel Islands
    • Death Valley
    • Joshua Tree
    • Lassen Volcanic
    • Pinnacles
    • Redwoods
    • Sequoia & Kings Canyon
    • Yosemite
  • Cities
    • Los Angeles
    • Palm Springs
    • Sacramento
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • Resources
    • Day Trip Ideas
    • Road Trip eBooks
    • Hotels
    • My Favorite Travel Products
    • Travel Videos
  • Browse By …
    • Map Of Locations
    • Cities
    • Counties
    • National Parks
    • State Parks

Korean Bell of Friendship

Last Modified: December 9, 2019

11shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

The Korean Bell of Friendship, located in the city of San Pedro, west of Long Beach, is a beautiful and unique structure that celebrates the friendship between the Republic of Korea and the American people. It is located in Angels Gate Park and is set out in the middle of a grassy field that overlooks the ocean.

The bell itself was presented by the Republic of Korea to America to celebrate the bicentennial of the US in 1976, and it was declared a Los Angeles Historic Monument in 1978.

The design of the Friendship Bell is modeled after the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, cast in 771 for Bongdeok Temple and now located at the National Museum of Gyeongju. Both bells are among the largest in the world.

The first thing that stuck out to me was the size of the bell and the structure that it was in. I had no idea it was as big as it is. It has a diameter of 7½ feet, an average thickness of 8 inches, and a height of 12 feet. The bell is made of over 17 tons of copper and tin, with gold, nickel, lead, and phosphorus added to the alloy for tone quality.

The bell has a large wooden log that hangs next to it and is used on the five times a year it rings. These days are New Year’s Eve, Korean American Day (January 13), Independence Day (Fourth of July), Korean Liberation Day (August 15), and every September in celebration of Constitution Week.

The structure that the bell hangs in was made over a period of ten months and is designed in the traditional style of the country. It is gorgeous and intricate, which goes to show the ten months were not spent in vain. The roof is supported by twelve columns representing the Korean zodiac, each column guarded by a carved animal.

While not something I would go just to San Pedro to see, it is a good stop if you are in the area. It has such a beautiful location and is a fantastic work of art, with history that goes with it. I enjoyed my time here, and I am sure I will stop by again if I am in the area.

Filed Under: Historical Structures, Southern California Tagged With: featured, San Pedro

Interested in supporting this blog?

This blog is simply a hobby and labor of love for me. If you have enjoyed the posts consider sharing it with your friends. I want as many people as possible to explore this state and you can help by letting them know about all of the great spots!

Join the Newsletter

Subscribe for the four day welcome series and to get the latest content every month.

    We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

    About JoshMc

    Thanks for checking out the blog, I am happy to be sharing my adventures with you! You can get to know me by reading my about me, which includes a video and additional information on the site, myself and my full disclosure. Also, follow along on Twitter here or read all of my posts on this blog here.

    Primary Sidebar

    About

    Josh from California Through My Lens I'm a travel junkie strapped down to one state, focused on seeing as much of it as I can and encouraging others to do the same. More about me.

    Popular Posts

    The Big List of Strange, Fun & Unique Attractions in Southern California
    Pacific Coast Highway: Where to Stop on Your Road Trip
    Top Hiking Trails in Southern California
    Fun Stops on the Drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
    24 Things to do in Downtown LA
    17 Things to do in Lake Tahoe
    Donner Pass, Summit Tunnel Hike: Old Abandoned Railroad

    Categories

    Other Resources


    Footer

    Search the site

    Additional Information

    Privacy Policy

    About Us

    Copyright © 2021 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

    Coronavirus February 2021 Update: Please note that some information in the posts may have changed and some places may be closed.