Peace Arch Park Canada-US border

The Peace Arch is a monument situated on the Canada United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, which stands 20.5 meters (67.2 ft) tall, was built by Sam Hill and dedicated in September 1921, and commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. The monument is built on the exact United States Canada boundary, between Interstate 5 and Highway 99, in the grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes. The Peace Arch has the flags of the U.S. and Canada mounted on its crown, and two inscriptions on both sides of its frieze. The inscription on the U.S. side of the Peace Arch reads "Children of a common mother", and the words on the Canadian side read "Brethren dwelling together in unity". Within the arch, each side has an iron gate hinged on either side of the border with an inscription above reading "May these gates never be closed". Peace Arch Park consists of Peace Arch Provincial Park on the Canadian side and Peace Arch State Park on the American side of the border.

Within the park is a major border crossing (between Interstate 5 on the U.S. side and British Columbia Highway 99 on the Canadian side) which has never closed, symbolizing a long history of peace between the two nations. In Canada, the crossing is officially named Douglas in honour of Sir James Douglas, the first governor of the Colony of British Columbia. Because of the Peace Arch monument, however, the border crossing between Surrey and Blaine is popularly known as the "Peace Arch Border Crossing", one of the busiest border crossings between Canada and the United States. It is the busiest such crossing west of Detroit. The Peace Arch park has been the site of various international events and protests. In 1952, African-American singer and activist Paul Robeson, banned from international travel during the Red Scares, performed several concerts at the site. He sang from a flatbed truck on the American side to an audience in Canada.

One book extensively covers the history of the International Peace Arch. It bears the title, "Sam Hill's Peace Arch: Remembrance of Dreams Past" by Richard Clark (2005).

Web site: http://peacearchpark.org/peacearch.htm
Location: Peach Arch Provincial Park
138 Peace Park Drive
RR#7 Surrey, BC V4P 2Y2
Telephone: +1-604-541-1217

From Canada: The Peace Arch is located 30 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia on Hwy 99.

From USA: The Peace Arch is located on Interstate 5, in the city of Blaine, twenty-one miles north of Bellingham, Washington at the US-Canadian border, in Whatcom County.

(March 17, 2009)

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Peace
• Arch
• Blaine
• Bellingham
• Washington
• US-Canada
• border
• Whatcom
• County
• Surrey
• BC
• British
• Columbia
• Canada
• United
• States
• Vancouver
• Hwy
• 99
• Park
• Anniversary
• Association
• USCPAA
• 1921
• monument
• world
• peace

[edwinserebrie]

Hi guys who live the in that us-canadian border. I´m going to Canada for holidays and I would like to know if I need any document or passport for crossing this border. Ill go to Vancouver and I would like to pass tu USA just for a little while. Thanks guys.

[sanjibdutta]

@edwinserebrie

You need U.S. Visa to cross U.S. immigration if you want to go across the park to the States. However, you can go to the U.S. side of the Peace Arch Park without U.S. Visa. Carry your passport with Canadian Visa while in the park just in case immigration or customs officials want to check your status in Canada.

[railroadtie69]

if you show up at the border station with a passport or enhanced drivers licence they wont stop you... they shouldnt do anything if youre abiding by the law like most of us... I like the idea of an agreement much like the EU to have a thin crust border between canada and USA and beef up security in airports and coastlines more, better efficiency and less expensive for our tax money.... I'm all in for harmonizing USA and Canada as we are very similar in culture

[mattmax11]

@playboysinistro 1 min

[mattmax11]

@fortis15 then were is it

[fortis15]

Being as a person who studies this history.

THIS Peace Arch is not on the Canadian-American Border...

THAT DISSAPOINTS ME..

[MrRobloMan]

i wanna go there i am about 15 minutes from surrey!

[123chalana]

@railroadtie69 lol i got arrest there

[sk8ersynistersean]

May these gates never close

[TheRubyFactory]

@railroadtie69 that is a very good statement, well said railroad but i have to add that one culture like pot and one doesnt. =D

[de132]

@

playboysinistro

Actually, a buddy of mine, was talking about Canada and Weed, and the US border patrol takes him down in less than what 2 seconds. Don't fuck with the US/Canada Border Patrol. They don't play games