the manhattan project

Los Alamos, the location of the Manhattan Project, was one of the 25 places I had on my original checklist in May. The scientific, historical, and social implications of the initiative are undeniable. And finally I had arrived….

In Los Alamos, New Mexico, Manhattan Project administrators found an ideal location for the secret laboratory where they designed and built the world’s first atomic weapons. During the Manhattan Project, Los Alamos became the home to many of the top scientific minds of the day: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Norris Bradbury, Richard Feynman, Hans Bethe, and many more luminaries.

Inside the visitor center were charts and archived images overviewing contributions by phases of development, the diverse disciplines drawn in, and collaborating locations across the US. There were several scientists in attendance to answer questions, who also work at Los Alamos National Labratory in the physics and engineering departments.

The Park Ranger at the visitor center introduced us to her husband, a highly knowledgeable physicist explaining further details of nuclear fission and the Trinity Tower test site, where the first atomic bomb was detonated. I have mixed feelings and thoughts with complicated subjects like this. I do, however, think it’s important to educate ourselves on details from the experts, especially in an age where toolsets rival Prometheun Fire.

For the next diary entry, I will cover my tour of Ashley Pond, Hans Bethe House, and finally Oppenheimer’s House.