In 1946, the citizens of Manhattan approved a bond to construct a multi-purpose auditorium to honor the 2,610 Riley Countians who had served and the 101 servicemen who lost their lives in World War II. As the years passed, Manhattan and Riley County residents became unaware of the auditorium’s role as a living World War II memorial. Through their advocacy and fundraising efforts, the Friends of Peace Memorial Auditorium were able to convince the City Commission to change course and avoid placing offices in the space. In conjunction with the rehabilitation of the Auditorium, a dedicated web page with historical and biographical information regarding Peace Memorial Auditorium is available at www.peacememorial101.org.