Visit Los Alamos, New Mexico

A black and white photo of a white building with a big white sign that has black writing that says, "Los Alamos Project Main Gate"

Left image
Los Alamos Project Main Gate during the Manhattan Project.
Credit: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

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A re-creation of the historic security gate is at Main Gate Park today.
Credit: NPS

Plan Your Visit

The Manhattan Project at Los Alamos

In Los Alamos, New Mexico, Manhattan Project administrators found an ideal location for the secret laboratory where they designed and built the world’s first atomic weapons. During the Manhattan Project, Los Alamos became the home to many of the top scientific minds of the day: Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, Norris Bradbury, Richard Feynman, Hans Bethe, and many more luminaries. These scientists worked together to develop the theoretical and experimental tests that created the first atomic weapons, using enriched uranium from Oak Ridge and plutonium from Hanford. Today, the nucleus of this once-secret city is still Los Alamos National Laboratory, though you’ll find plenty of historic and cultural resources to explore as well. Although Los Alamos National Laboratory is not accessible to the public, accessible Manhattan Project-era sites are located throughout the community.