The Peace Arch is unlike any other landmark in British Columbia. Built in 1921, it sits exactly on the US–Canada border — literally, with one foot in BC and one foot in Washington State. The arch itself is 20 metres tall, made of white concrete faced with marble, and carries two English inscriptions on opposite sides: "Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity" facing south toward the US, and "Children of a Common Mother" facing north toward Canada. Inside the arch are two inscriptions in a sealed chamber: "May These Gates Never Be Closed."
The 17-hectare Peace Arch Provincial Park surrounds the monument on the Canadian side, with landscaped flower gardens that are maintained symmetrically with the adjacent Peace Arch State Park on the US side. In a quirk of international law, the park itself is a zone where people from both countries can meet without formally crossing the border — during the COVID-19 pandemic this became a notable meeting place for families separated by the closed border, as long as they didn't step over the invisible international line inside the park.
The park is especially popular on weekends in summer, when Canadian and American families picnic side by side. It's also a surprisingly good place to bring visitors who've never seen a land border before — the experience of standing with one foot in each country is genuinely strange and worth the trip.
How to get there
By car from Surrey City Centre, take Highway 99 south for 20 minutes to Exit 2 (8 Avenue). The 351 or 354 buses from South Surrey Park & Ride stop at Peace Arch Park. By foot from the US side, park at Peace Arch State Park in Blaine, Washington.
Local tips
- Bring your passport even if you're not crossing — the park is patrolled by both countries
- Flower gardens peak in July and August
- The inscriptions face opposite directions — walk around the arch to read both
- Avoid long weekends if you want quiet; the border crossing queues spill into the park