The Peace Arch is the world's first monument to peace. The Peace Arch Provincial park features the historical Peace Arch with its engravings “Children of a Common Mother,” on the Washington side and “Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity,” on the British Columbia side. Augustus Warren Gould of Gould and Champney designed the Peace Arch.
Sam Hill a prominent American businessman, conceived the idea of the Arch to mark the historic War of 1812 treaties. Mr. Hill laid a hollow cornerstone within which he placed a hammered steel box made from the steel of a captured slave ship. Inside the box, he placed a piece of the Beaver and the Mayflower. The Arch was fitted with two iron gates, leaving them open to symbolize peace between the two great nations. Peace Arch was dedicated in 1921. The lands around the Arch were gathered through donations and fundraising efforts. Two decades later, on November 7, 1939, the Peace Arch and surrounding lands on the Canadian side became Peace Arch Provincial Park.
Among other things, the park offers broad lawns, public areas, a lily pond and a flower garden in the shape of the Canadian flag. Flowers, trees and shrubs are part of the park’s natural heritage. Please do not damage or remove them.
Peace Arch Provincial Park is unique in BC’s system of provincial parks. Its location straddles the 49th parallel, with its planning and development done in conjunction with Washington State Parks. With its formality of beautiful lawns and gardens, this park is like no other. The Peace Arch, dedicated in 1921, was the first such structure in the world. It was built on the International Boundary between Canada and the United States to commemorate the lasting peace between the two countries. School children from the United States and Canada donated money for the purchase of the land surrounding the Peace Arch and in 1939 the Canadian portion of the Peace Arch Park was officially dedicated. The park provides opportunities for walking and indoor/outdoor picnicking.
Date Established: November 7, 1939
Park Size: 9 hectares on the Canadian side
The park is about 40 km south of Vancouver and is situated on the International Boundary at the Douglas Border crossing. This is at the junction of Highway 99 in British Columbia and Interstate 5 in Washington State. Heritage Hall is available for day-use reservations between April 1 and October 31, annually. Reservations can be made through Discover Camping. The hall contains a kitchen and has an occupancy of 150 people. The reservation fee includes the use of tables and chairs.