Exploring the Nuclear Era Eight Decades Post-Hiroshima in Las Vegas
In the heart of Nevada, approximately 65 miles from downtown Las Vegas, lies the Nevada National Security Site, a historic location that witnessed hundreds of nuclear detonations from 1951 to 1992[1][5]. These tests, part of Cold War weapons development and testing programs, were a unique spectacle that became intertwined with Las Vegas's mid-century identity[1][2].
Capitalising on this unusual phenomenon, the city embraced the atomic era as an extension of its entertainment culture. Tourists flocked to the area for "atomic box lunches" and picnics near ground zero, while businesses held "Dawn Bomb Parties." The Sky Room at the Desert Inn and the roof of Atomic Liquors downtown were popular spots to watch the nuclear tests[1][2].
To commemorate this significant chapter in the city's and nation's nuclear history, the National Atomic Testing Museum (also known as The Atomic Museum) was established in Las Vegas[3]. This museum provides a comprehensive timeline from the Manhattan Project through the Trinity test to the extensive nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site[1][3].
The museum houses exhibits explaining nuclear testing, the scientific developments, and the cultural and historical impact the testing had, especially in relation to Las Vegas being so close to the test site[1][3]. Visitors can explore artifacts, multimedia, and educational materials that reveal both the technical aspects of nuclear weapons development and the unique social and cultural dynamics of atomic testing[3].
One of the most compelling exhibits at the museum is the "Ground Zero Theater," which simulates a nuclear test[1]. The museum also pays tribute to the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki[1].
The museum does not appear to be apologising for its subject, the history of nuclear weapons. Instead, it seeks to educate visitors about the events, the science, and the cultural impact of nuclear testing[1]. The museum's collection includes several (inert) atomic bombs, including a real "Fat Boy," similar to the one used in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki[1].
The museum also delves into the life and work of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project in building and testing the weapon at Los Alamos[1]. An interesting anecdote in the museum's collection is the story of Russian scientists who, when taken shopping at a Las Vegas grocery store, initially refused to shop, thinking all the abundance was U.S. propaganda[1]. They were eventually taken to a second store where they accepted American capitalist reality.
The Manhattan Project, which developed the original atomic bomb, officially began on June 18, 1942, and was shut down on August 25, 1947[1]. The outdoor explosion show ended in 1963 with the signing of the Limited Test Ban treaty, which forbade testing of nuclear weapons in the atmosphere, in space, and underwater[1].
On August 28, the Museum is doing a free Zoom, "Remembrance for Hiroshima and Nagasaki," with a Hiroshima survivor giving testimony[2]. The museum's book display includes "The Light of Morning," Memoirs of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors[2].
The National Atomic Testing Museum stands as a testament to a significant and often controversial period in history, providing a platform for education, reflection, and understanding. For those interested in learning more about the history of nuclear weapons, nuclear testing, and Nevada's role in the Cold War, a visit to this museum is highly recommended.
[1] https://www.nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/ [2] https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/arts-and-lifestyle/arts-events/ [3] https://www.atomicmuseum.org/ [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_National_Security_Site [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada_Proving_Ground
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