Manhattan Project National Historic Park
Helps us remember events that changed the world
Established in 2015, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park preserves and interprets the nationally significant historic sites associated with the race to develop atomic weapons during World War II (WWII).
The park is co-managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of Energy (DoE). It consists of three, non-contiguous sites that were the project’s three primary centers of operations: Hanford, Washington; Los Alamos, New Mexico; and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Most of the research, innovation, production, and weapons fabrication occurred at these three locations. My post will focus on the Los Alamos site.
Reflecting on the Past
In August of 1945, the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. This helped to bring an end to WWII, ushered in the Nuclear Age and forever changed the world.
By the end of 1945, more than 200,000 people died as a direct result of these two bombings. In addition to the immediate deaths, tens of thousands more people suffered physical and emotional traumas that have not yet healed.
Many decisions were made during WWII that led to the development of the world’s first atomic weapons. Many decades later, we continue to confront the profound choices and consequences of the Manhattan Project.
Historical Park Sites in Los Alamos
The Manhattan Project National Historic Park legislation identifies 17 sites at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), as well as 13 sites in downtown Los Alamos. Visitors can see the properties on a walking tour in the city center, visit the Bradbury Science Museum and Los Alamos History Museum.
The best place to start is at the Park’s Visitor Center next to Ashley Pond Park to view a film about the Manhattan Project, get your National Park Passport book stamped and map that shows the suggested walking tour.
Visit Los Alamos NM - Manhattan Project National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
“Behind-the-Fence” Tours
As mentioned above, many of the sites are on LANL property and are not open to the public. However, one weekend a year, the Lab offers guided tours of several sites on LANL property. The website says that the following sites will be visited:
the original Pond Cabin, which served as an office for physicist Emilio Segrè’s Radioactivity Group;
a battleship bunker that protected staff during explosives testing; and
the site of Louis Slotin’s deadly criticality accident.
Check out the website for more information on when the tours take place and the requirements. Currently, the site says participants must be at least 18 years of age, U.S. citizens, and able to provide proof of citizenship at the tour check-in.
Register now to tour the Manhattan Project National Historical Park (lanl.gov)
Days of Peace
Every year to mark the anniversary of the bombings (August 6-9), each of the three sites host "Days of Peace and Remembrance. The events acknowledge, commemorate and interpret the conflicting viewpoints that surround the development and use of the world’s first atomic weapons. These events provide an opportunity to reflect on the historical and emotional traumas of the bombings.
The events for 2023 happened just a few weeks ago. In Los Alamos, the park hosted Lights for Peace at Ashley Pond Park where luminarias (farolitos) with messages of peace and reflection were lit.
Check the website to see the dates and the activities for the upcoming (or just past) year.
Next Time
My next post will be about the Wild Horses of White Sands Missile Range. Right before the Trinity Test happened in 1945, the US Government took land for that test from ranchers by right of eminent domain. Since the ranchers had to leave quickly many of their horses were left behind and, for generations, ran wild within the fences of the Range. After an extreme drought in 1994, over 100 horses were found dead which prompted public action. Read about this story next time which does have a happy ending.
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Thank you! Fascinating!
Interesting