BERLIN : German Bicentennial

While today will be remembered by Americans more as the 46th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, it also marks the bicentennial of one of Europe’s most famous landmarks--Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.

Conceived as a fitting terminus to Berlin’s most prominent boulevard, Unter den Linden, the gate ended up only a few feet behind the Berlin Wall during the Cold War era. Over the better part of three decades, it came to symbolize Europe’s Cold War division.

Inaugurated on Aug. 6, 1791, the gate became the backdrop as thousands of Germans celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989.

Its birthday will be marked by speeches, a Mozart concert and continued lively debate about the government’s recent decision to restore the gate’s Prussian eagle and iron cross.