In 1945 for better or for worse, in the twilight of the Second World War, the Manhattan Project bore fruition. The world would never be the same and months later, these weapons of indiscriminate mass destruction brought the war to an end. Today we live in the nuclear age, this everyone knows. Fortunately, the madness and fool-heartedness of the Cold War have passed for now - along with its brinkmanship of mutually assured destruction. Still, we live in this world where multiple states have the ability to rain this terrifying destruction down on others.
The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas is one of the leading museums that document the history of nuclear testing - particularly at the Nevada Test Site just to the north of Vegas. It is another of the many things to see and do in Las Vegas besides partying.
About The National Atomic Testing Museum
The National Atomic Testing Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and opened in March 2005. In December 2011 the museum was designated as a national museum joining the list of around 37 national museums in the United States.
- Address: 755 E. Flamingo Road, Just North of McCarran International Airport (Just East Of the Las Vegas Strip)
The museum focuses on covering the period from the first test north of Vegas in 1951 to now.
In 2012 it even added an exhibit about the mysterious Air Force base at Area 51. See here for what we know about Area 51 and what we would like to know if we could visit (spoiler alert, there's not likely to be any little green men there).
The museum is a national science, history, and educational institution delving deep into the history of America's nuclear weapons testing program in Nevada. It focuses on understanding the extent and effect of nuclear testing on the whole world - both from a point of view of nuclear deterrence and geopolitical history. It is designed to be useful and informative to a diverse public of varied ages, backgrounds, and knowledge.
- Visiting The Nuclear Test Site: One Can Visit The Nuclear Test Site For Free, See Here
While they are mostly focused on the testing in Nevada just north of Vegas starting from 1951, they also cover other parts of history. They cover the Manhattan Project, women in the nuclear field, and even UFO sightings and pop culture.
One of the most notable exhibits includes an old nuclear reactor. This reactor is called Genie and was used in developing the nuclear rocket and the first air-to-air missile.
- Time Covered: The Museum Covered 70 Years Of Nuclear Testing
At one point, personal atomic weapons were being developed to replace conventional weapons. These include the "Backpack Nuke" and the "Davy Crockett Weapon System" - which is a recoilless gun.
The Exhibits At The Museum
- Notable Items on Exhibit:
- A Nuclear Reactor Called Genie
- The Backpack Nuke
- Davy Crockett Weapon System (A Recoilless Gun)
- A Piece Of The Berlin Wall
- Two Pieces Of The World Trade Center (Symbolising The Start of The War on Terror)
The museum has both temporary and permanent exhibits. The temporary exhibits showcase some of its over 12,000 unique artifacts. The permanent exhibits include:
- The Ground Zero Theater & Atmospheric Testing: Experience A Simulated Atmospheric Bomb Blast
- Radiation: Discover How Natural And Man-Made Radiation Is Tracked, Monitored, and Measured
- Development Of The Bomb: Explore How Man Came To Make The First Atomic Bomb
- Underground Testing: See The Technology and Science That Took Nuclear Testing Underground
- Atomic Culture: Learn How To Survive An Atomic Blast And Go Beyond Duck and Cover And Into the Atomic Age
The Museum has one of the most comprehensive collections of nuclear history. It collects and preserves a wide variety of materials and artifacts related to the testing of atomic weapons - as well as nuclear and radiological science and technology. The museum boasts thousands of videos, artifacts, reports, and photographs - many of them are rare or one of a kind. They are constantly receiving new items that are being donated constantly and their collections continue to grow.
Visiting The Museum
Opening Hours
- Days Open: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
- Hours Open: 9.30 am to 3.30 pm (Check-in by 2 pm Required)
- Closed: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day
Cost Of Admission
- Adult: General Adult Admission - $22.00
- Youth: Aged 7-14 - $16.00
- Students: $18.00
- Kids: Under The Age Of 6 Are Free
- Residents: Nevada Residents $18.00
The museum also holds different events. These can include special lecture series, special presentations of artifacts and photos, and a range of other events. See their website here for planning events.
Next time in Las Vegas, be sure to pop in and see his interesting museum. It covers a heavy aspect of history, so one probably shouldn't be in the party mood!