Monday, April 8, 2013

Trinity Atomic Bomb Site

Saturday morning Kyle and I got up bright and early to drive the 3 hours out to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. We were going to see the Trinity Atomic Bomb Site. On July 16, 1945 at 5:29am the first atomic bomb was assembled and tested at the Trinity Site. Less than one month later on August 6th the 2nd atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan and the 3rd on Nagasaki on August 9th.

Being able to stand in the place where so much history had been created was incredible. We were able to step foot in the building where the plutonium core was assembled. Here are pictures from our trip:

1. This is "Jumbo". The bomb was supposed to be placed inside but they decided against. It was 800ft away from the detonation site in a steel tower and it survived the blast. In 1946 they filled it with 8 500lb bombs that blew the ends off.
2. Us standing inside "Jumbo"
3. The monument that stands at the detonation site
4. Us next to the monument

 1. This structure is the only piece left of the tower that the bomb sat on
2. A replica of the "Fat Man" bomb casing that was dropped on Nagasaki
3. An aerial view of the trinity site after the bomb exploded
4. A picture of the mushroom cloud created by the bomb


1. McDonald Ranch- where the plutonium core was assembled
2. The exact room of the house where the core was assembled
3. a timeline of the bomb's creation and detonation
4. Us on the bus ride back to the main site

 1. The crowd from the 1965 open house
2. Newspaper article announcing the bombing on Japan
3. The bomb completely assembled at the top of the tower
4. "Jumbo" being brought in on a rail car

This was one of the most incredible experiences that I have ever had. I'm so glad that we had the opportunity to go, especially now since it's only open twice a year (1st weekend in April and 1st weekend in October). If you are ever in this area during the times it is open, definitely go. You will not regret it!

Hope you enjoyed my pictures.

Have a great day!

35 comments:

  1. Wow this is cool! I didn't know you could visit here. It must be pretty eerie.

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  2. Such an amazing piece of world history!

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  3. That's pretty awesome. I'm pretty sure my parents have seen this -- they were stationed at WSMR back in the late 70's!!

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  4. I agree this does look like an amazing trip. Excellent pictures!

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  5. What an interesting trip. I love finding random things like that to do!

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  6. What an awesome and unique trip! Love the pictures.

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  7. That's pretty sweet!! I never thought about the stuff before the bomb, so that's pretty neat!

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  8. This is so cool. Maybe someday, we'll get to visit there!

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  9. Wow! That looks amazing! Good thing they decided against its use :-)
    New GFC follower
    Adrienne
    http://myblackwhitecolor.blogspot.com

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  10. That's awesome! Looks like you had such a great trip!

    ¤´¨)
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    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
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  11. That is so cool. Glad you had a great time!

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  12. What a cool experience!!! I love visiting places like that. Pearl Harbor is one of my all-time favorite historical sites I've visited...this looks right up my alley too ;)

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  13. Wow that is so cool!! Maybe one day I'll visit.

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  14. So cool! Thanks for sharing the pictures with all of us. :)

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  15. Thanks for posting pictures. One day I hope to get out there and see it for myself.

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  16. Wow, that's so neat to actually be there!

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  17. How fascinating!!! That's so neat that you got to go visit!

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  18. Looks like you had a great trip. I can't imagine how it feel standing in "Jumbo". Maybe a little bit like walking through the gates of Dachau concentration camp?? I don't know..

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    1. It was quite overwhelming and incredible.

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  19. That is seriously so cool!! What a great experience! How come they don't open it up more frequently?

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  20. Crazy! I didn't even know that was there. We'll have to go sometime!

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  21. That is so awesome! So glad you had the opportunity to go and stand where so much history was made. I can't wait to visit that site! Thanks for sharing those great pictures! :)

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  22. What a neat trip! maybe I can take SoldierMan when he gets home!

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  23. My husband worked on wsmr. Never been to the trinity site. I'm sure it was an interesting trip. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. How absolutely AMAZING! :)
    Looks like an experience you'll never forget!

    I have never been here but it is definitely a place I want to go. As terrible as it is, I get even more interested in this kind of stuff after everything with North Korea etc. going on in the news.

    PS and thanks for checking out my site! :)

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    1. :) It was an amazing place and one experience that I will never forget. :)

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  25. That looks incredible - I'm glad you had such a wonderful experience! I love visiting sites filled with history - it was my major in college, after all. :) Can't get enough of the past.

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  26. It looks awesome! I am such a sucker for history, and this is just so much history that my mouth waters just by looking at the pictures! :)

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  27. Jeremy and I love visiting historical sites! Thanks for all the pictures, I'm living vicariously through you!

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  28. Wow! That is such a cool experience! Especially since it's only open twice a year.

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  29. What an incredible adventure in history! You did such a great job chronically your adventure. I enjoyed the photos. I'm almost all caught up on your blog now. :)

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    1. Thanks!! :) It was an amazing experience!

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