The Life & Legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Black and white photo of Oppenheimer seated, staring at the camera.
J. Robert Oppenheimer pictured in Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project.

US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY/ED WESTCOTT

 

A controversial figure to this day, J. Robert Oppenheimer led the development and construction of the world's first atomic weapons. Born in New York and educated at Harvard and Cambridge, Oppenheimer taught physics in California before embarking on his role in the Manhattan Project as the director of the top-secret Los Alamos Laboratory. After the war, his past communist leanings came to a head when his government security clearance was revoked after several contentious hearings at the height of the "Red Scare".  

Learn more about his life and legacy through a series of articles, profiles, virtual tours of his Los Alamos home, and filming locations featured in the 2023 Oppenheimer Hollywood biopic.   

 
Black and white photo of a seated man with a young boy standing beside him.
The Life of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Explore the life and legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer through an article series.

Two men stand in the desert looking at the ground directly in front of them.
Oppenheimer Film Characters

Explore the real-life stories of characters featured in the Oppenheimer film.

A large wooden lodge with a manicured lawn at the front.
Oppenheimer Filming Locations

Explore locations in and around Los Alamos featured in the Oppenheimer film.

A color image of Oppenheimer's Los Alamos house.
Panoramic Tours

Explore a panoramic tour of Oppenheimer's Los Alamos home as well as other Manhattan Project sites throughout the secret cities.

 

Last updated: February 21, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

National Park Service, Manhattan Project National Historical Park
c/o NPS Intermountain Regional Office
One Denver Federal Center, Building 50

Denver, CO 80225-0287

Phone:

Hanford: 509.376.1647
Los Alamos: 505.661.6277
Oak Ridge: 865.482.1942

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