Link to:
Photos & Coordinates | Sources
The International Peace Garden, located on the international border near the towns of Dunseith, North Dakota, and Boissevain, was originally conceived in 1928 by Dr. Henry J. Moore, a horticulturist and teacher from Islington, Ontario. Over 50,000 people attended its dedication ceremony on 14 July 1932 in which a fieldstone monument near the entrance to the Garden was unveiled by Canadian Minister of the Interior Thomas Gerow “Tom” Murphy, North Dakota Governor George F. Shafer. Physical development of the site began in 1934.
Over the decades, a number of structures have been built on the Gardens’ 2,339-acre site. They include a Peace Chapel (1970) that straddles the Canada-US border, a Carillon Bell Tower (1976), a 37-metre-tall Peace Tower (1982), a 9-11 Memorial consisting of ten steel girders from the former World Trade Center (2002), and a 17,600 square foot Interpretive Centre (2010).
A pair of bronze plaques, mounted at ground level in the gardens, were deployed in the 1960s. One plaque, unveiled by Lieutenant Governor Errick French Willis on behalf of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly on 17 June 1961, commemorates the centenary of the Dakota Territory from which the state of North Dakota was carved. The second plaque, unveiled by Governor William L. Guy on behalf of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly on 23 June 1967, commemorates the centenary of Canada.
A new entrance gate, designed by architect Donald Allan “Don” Ellis on behalf of the architectural firm Blankstein Coop Gillmor and Hanna, was built as a gesture of international goodwill by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The gate was opened officially on 26 July 1964.
The Carillon Bell Tower with 14 bells was a memorial gift for Lady Arna Sifton from her two sons. For 42 years, the bells were located on the First Methodist Church in Brandon. In the mid-1970s, the Brandon Central United Church donated the bells to the Peace Garden.
On 25 May 2000, additional plaques were affixed to the original monument on the occasion of a meeting of the Premiers of western Canada and some Governors of the western United States. Present at the meeting were Edward Schafer (Governor of North Dakota), Dirk Kempthorne (Governor of Idaho), Gary Doer (Premier of Manitoba), Ujjal Dosanjh (Premier of British Columbia), Roy Romanow (Premier of Saskatchewan), Ralph Klein (Premier of Alberta), Stephen Kakiwi (Premier of the North West Territories), Pat Duncan (Premier of Yukon), Paul Okalik (Premier of Nunavut), Gordon D. Giffin (US Ambassador to Canada), and Raymond A. J. Chretien (Canadian Ambassador to the US).
The Let Peace Prevail monument composed of steel rescues from the devastation of the World Trade Center was officially unveiled by Manitoba Premier Gary Doer on 11 September 2002. Nearby is a display of steel girders from the World Trade Center.
Period
Chair
Residence
1937-1938
Donald J. Crighton
?
1938-1945
Henry J. Moore
Islington, Ontario
1945-1947
F. R. Longworth
?
1947-1957
John Stormon
Rolla, North Dakota
1957-1969
William Russell “Russ” Leslie (1891-1985)
Morden, Manitoba
1969-1974
Reginald Otto Lissaman (1908-1974)
Brandon, Manitoba
1974-1977
Edward Ingo “Ed” Dow (1904-1992)
Boissevain, Manitoba
1977-1979
Eric Douglas Putt (1915-2004)
Morden, Manitoba
1979-?
Donald Heyes
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Period
President
Residence
1932-1936
Donald J. Crighton
?
1936-1941
Dr. Charles MacLachlan
Dunseith, North Dakota
1941-1947
W. M. Smart
Minot, North Dakota
1947-1957
Donald Gordon McKenzie (1887-1963)
Winnipeg, Manitoba
1957-1973
John Stormon
Rolla, North Dakota
1973-?
Oscar Solberg
Rolla, North Dakota
Postcard giving an aerial view of the International Peace Garden, with Canada at left and USA at right (circa 1960s)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2011-0050.
International Peace Gardens (2011)
Source: Christian Cassidy
International Peace Tower (2011)
Source: Christian Cassidy
Centennial commemoration plaques (June 2019)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Dedication monument near the entrance to the Garden (June 2019)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Carillon Bell Tower (July 2022)
Source: George Penner
Let Peace Prevail monument (July 2022)
Source: George Penner
Let Peace Prevail monument (July 2022)
Source: George Penner
International Peace Garden (July 2023)
Source: Rose Kuzina
International Peace Garden (July 2023)
Source: Rose Kuzina
International Peace Garden (July 2023)
Source: Rose KuzinaSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.00000, W100.05432
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Boundary Cairn (International Peace Garden)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Errick F. Willis Pavilion (International Peace Garden)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: First Methodist Church / First United Church (Lorne Avenue, Brandon)
A Border Vision: The International Peace Garden by Charles Thomsen
Manitoba History, Number 31, Spring 1996
“Peace gardens along border are suggested,” Winnipeg Tribune, 25 March 1931, page 10.
“50,000 people attend Peace Garden dedication,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 July 1932, page 2.
“Thousands join in ceremony at boundary,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 July 1932, pages 3, 8.
“Tenders for the superstructure International Peace Garden Gate,” Winnipeg Tribune, 24 October 1963, page 12.
“New gate for Peace Gardens,” Winnipeg Tribune, 16 July 1964, page 8.
A Century of Horticulture in Manitoba: 1880-1980 by Peter Jacob Peters, 1988, page 441.
We thank George Penner, Rose Kuzina, David Putt, and Glen Toews for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough and Christian Cassidy.
Page revised: 4 February 2026
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
