Quarter century after arriving, World Peace Bell relocated to temporary storage

NEWPORT, Ky. — A piece of world history signifying peace was paraded through the streets of Newport.

The World Peace Bell, a 99,000-pound commemorative bell that ceremonially opened the 21st century, was moved to a new location for temporary storage.

The bell was conceived under the collaboration of organizations in France and the U.S. It opened the new millennium with its first swing Jan. 1, 2000.

But first, it had to make it here. It traveled across the sea from France to New Orleans in 1999 and then made its way up the river to its final destination in northern Kentucky.

Newport Police Capt. Kevin Drohan said he remembers the day 25 years ago.

“In 1999, when they brought it up the licking and dropped it off at the Maxim Crane site in Wilder, the Newport Police Department escorted the bell from there to Newport,” Drohan said. “It’s something historic, something monumental.”

“It was great being a part of that the first time when it came to the city; just a neat feeling. I feel like it represents peace. It represents history.”

Due to the redevelopment of the Peace Bell site, the bell needed to be relocated to the Newport Public Works lot for temporary storage. 

Drohan once again played a part in escorting it through city streets, where people stopped and watched as the historical monument passed by.

“It just shows that community matters to a lot of our residents,” Drohan said. “It’s been a great feeling being part of this again, 25 years later, and getting to take the same pictures I took in front of it.”

Spencer Johnson, a retired architect who’s lived in Newport for 30 years, said he enjoyed seeing the bell up close.

“I thought it was a pretty cool idea by the gentleman that did it and the collaboration between the country of France,” he said.

Getting it to its temporary location unharmed took a ton of care and skill by Maxim Crane and Hosea Project Movers.

Shaun Pan, owner and operator of the riverfront Hampton Inn & Suites just a block away on Newport’s riverfront, is redeveloping the World Peace Bell site. He is developing two other Hilton brands, TRU and Home 2 Suites, on the site along with the office building and parking garage. A permanent location for the bell has not been determined.

The World Peace Bell is one of the world’s largest functioning bells and the largest dedicated to peace internationally.