The entrance to The International Peace Garden was deliberately chosen to be at the spot where Manitoba Highway 10 becomes North Dakota Highway 3, "the longest north/south road in the world." The idea of the garden was concocted in 1929 at a Toronto convention of the Professional Grounds Management Society.
Three years later, in less frivolous times, the Garden was dedicated, "A living monument symbolizing that two nations can live in harmony along the longest unfortified border in the world."
Covering 2,339 acres, the garden takes over two hours to tour by car if you don't count the 1.5 mile hike around Lake Stormon, "a restful spot to stop and watch the beaver." If you like flowers and don't like people, this is the place for you.
The Peace Garden has a large floral clock, donated by Bulova in 1966 according to a sign next to it. A smorgasbord is served on Sundays in the pavilion named after Errick Willis, a former lieutenant governor of Manitoba.
Charlton Heston visited in 1956 to dedicate a tablet on which are inscribed the Ten Commandments -- but he was promoting a movie, not peace.
