After sitting unnoticed amidst weeds for two decades behind the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse’s Armory Square, a section of the Berlin Wall is now the centerpiece of new peace garden. The slab of concrete that was a sign of the end of the Cold War, thanks to an anonymous donor
"Now it’s this wonderful place where people can go and sit and think about what this symbol means," said MOST spokeswoman Maria Welych.
The wall has been renovated and is now surrounded by professionally installed shrubs and perennials.
The 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall last November brought attention to the piece procured for Syracuse by one of the original founders of the museum. It had been leaning against Syracuse’s old Armory, untouched for more than 20 years. That anniversary spurred anonymous donations for a more formal peace garden.
Now steps lead to a landing where the 12-foot slab of concrete stands alone. There you can see the outline of a peace sign and flowers and some letters on the side of the wall that once faced West Berlin and was painted white. Welych says there is a protective layer on the wall, so anyone can touch what has become a symbol of the end of the Cold War.
"I think kinetically, that has a lot of impact on kids, if they can actually touch history.”
This piece of history has been standing behind the museum for more than 20 years.
“I’m hoping that this story and other stories, now that we have redone the area, can bring attention to it. And this summer people can take a walk around the building -- it’s a very nice walk -- and then you can see it.”
