vegas in black and white showing nuclear history

The Atomic Museum’s Role in Preserving Our Nuclear History

The Atomic Museum’s vital role in preserving and contextualizing humanity’s atomic legacy takes center stage in the New York Times article Exploring Atomic Bomb History Beyond Los Alamos. Spurred on by pop culture hits like Oppenheimer and the newly released Fallout TV show, people are more curious than ever about our atomic history.

Atomic bombs, nuclear weapons, Oppenheimer, the Soviet Union, the Cold War — they want to find a place where they can learn about them in an addressable form.” – Joseph Kent, the deputy director and curator of the Atomic Museum.

Luckily, the Atomic Museum is for those curious about the history of nuclear testing. There are two distinct, interconnected experiences for guests: The Atomic Museum and a monthly tour of The Nevada National Security Site. The Nevada National Security Site sets the stage with historical context, while the Atomic Museum adds depth with artifacts and exhibits that inspire further understanding.

The Atomic Museum is presented in a detailed, chronological order, starting with the Manhattan Project and dives into the science behind nuclear testing. They have an extensive collection of permanent exhibits, like “Spy,” which spotlights the NSA’s gathering of telemetry intelligence. In the Ground Zero theatre, guests can view the impactful 15-minute black-and-white film of an actual nuclear test.

Nevada’s pivotal role in nuclear testing is front and center at the monthly tour of the Nevada National Security Site, formerly known as The Nevada Test Site. This site witnessed over 1000 atomic tests and is still used for experiments today. Guests will tour the actual site where nuclear tests took place and learn about the environmental and cultural impact of this time.

Our goal is to provide an informed opinion. Whether you are for or against nuclear weapons testing, ultimately, we can all agree that the history needs to be remembered.” – Joseph Kent, the deputy director and curator of the museum.

For Las Vegas locals and visitors alike, the Atomic Museum is a must-visit. Book your tickets now for a journey of historical enlightenment and a deeper appreciation for the complexities of our atomic past.

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Join Us at the Atomic Museum!

Experience Nevada’s explosive History! The Atomic Museum is one of a handful of private national museums and showcases some of the rarest of artifacts relating to the nation’s atomic testing program. Nowhere else can you see a large nuclear reactor that was used in the development of the nuclear rocket and the first air-to-air missile, Genie. Personal atomic weapons that were developed to use in place of conventional weapons such as the Backpack Nuke and the Davy Crockett Weapon System (recoilless gun) are placed throughout the 8,000 square feet of museum exhibits.

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