National-Atomic-Testing-Museum

Part of a radiation testing devices display at the Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas

National-Atomic-Testing-Museum

by Mo
June 30, 2013
0 comments

A Nuclear “To Do” Must in Las Vegas

By Monique Gaudin

The National Atomic Testing Museum opened as a local Las Vegas attraction in March of 2005 and became a national Smithsonian affiliate in 2012.

Atomic-Testing-Museum-Volunteer-Jo-Muller — Greeter Jo Muller getting into the spirit of the Area 51-Myth or Reality Exhibit at the National Atomic Testing Museum. Many of the volunteers have a connection to the Nevada Test Site. Mrs. Muller’s husband was the chief meteorologist whose job it was to give the go ahead to conduct the Atomic tests. Photo: Monique Gaudin

The national endorsement has opened the floodgates of world–wide personal donations of artifacts and collections relating to the combined forty-one years of atmospheric and underground atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site, now known as the Nevada National Security Site.

"We have around 9,000 photographs in the collections and another 4,00o waiting to be put in" says Karen Green, curator of the National Atomic testing Museum which relies on volunteers and college interns to help catalog and preserve the numerous donated NTS artifacts. — “We have around 9,000 photographs in the collections and another 4,00o waiting to be put in” says Karen Green, curator of the National Atomic testing Museum which relies on volunteers and college interns to help catalog and preserve the numerous donated NTS artifacts. Photo: Monique Gaudin

“You look at the Nevada Test site and you have 350 thousand workers and then you have all the atomic events and that’s 62 thousand. We don’t have a count on all the union workers, but when you start looking at the nuclear complex you have to include plants in New York, plants in Philadelphia, plants all over the United Sates and contractors all over the United States, and you then come up with millions of people who have connections to the nuclear complex,” shared museum curator Karen Green.

Already housing over 12 thousand artifacts relating to the atomic testing era, this is a must on your “to do” list of Vegas. Just minutes off the Las Vegas Strip at 755 E. Flamingo Rd., the museum, in addition to providing a surprisingly interactive, educational and iconic peek into a historic era, holds events such as Family Fun Day to promote STEM education, a professional lecture series, along with special exhibits like the current one on Area 51- Myth or Reality.

"The first ever exhibit on Area 51, the real truth, the real programs and the secrecy that surrounds the base at Groom Lake." Photo: Monique Gaudin — “The first ever exhibit on Area 51, the real truth, the real programs and the secrecy that surrounds the base at Groom Lake.”Photo: Monique Gaudin

From Atomic pop-culture to serious scholar that can be research further in the museums on site library, this jaunt is an unexpected “blast.”

Hours & Location
• Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
755 E. Flamingo Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-794-5151