The first thought that strikes a new visitor is: this is such a clean and orderly place.
Los Alamos sits on the Pajarito Plateau, a consolidated mass of volcanic tuff from the Valles and Toledo eruptions (1.4 to 1.1 million years ago). The town-site is built on a series of fingers of land (locally referred to as mesas) separated by deep canyons. The canyons result from water runoff from the Sierra de los Valles (a branch of the Jemez Mountains, one of the southernmost extensions of the Rockies) which border the town, and range up to several hundred feet deep. Most of the town is located on the top of the mesas, at an elevation around 7,500 feet above sea level. In addition, the community of White Rock sits at the base of the mesas, around 7000 feet. Read more...
Los Alamos (Spanish: Los Álamos, meaning "The cottonwoods") is a townsite and census-designated place (CDP) in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States, built upon four mesas of the Pajarito Plateau and the adjoining White Rock Canyon. The population of the CDP was 12,019 at the 2010 Census. The townsite or "the hill" is one part of town while White Rock is also part of the town. Technically, both are part of the same incorporated city/county. Los Alamos is home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which was founded to undertake the Manhattan Project. Los Alamos County is an incorporated county, and many county offices are located at the townsite of Los Alamos. Los Alamos High School is the public high school of Los Alamos County. Before the Manhattan Project, the site was occupied by the Los Alamos Ranch School. Los Alamos has a county council which the people elect to four-year terms. The county council is seven members with four or three persons elected every two years to the four-year terms. The council elects a chairman and vice-chairman.
Los Alamos Laboratory, known as Project Y, was conceived during the early part of World War II. The United States wanted to build an atomic explosive to counter the threat posed by the German nuclear development program. The term Manhattan Project came about because the program began under the Manhattan Engineering District of the War Department. Full size view of city.
Manhattan Project
For those not familiar with the creation of the Atomic Bomb, this is a VERY famous place. Los Alamos grew from a few hundred people in 1943 to over 6,000 in 1945. It was the center of the theoretical calculations that under pinned the bomb development. The Manhattan Project was a huge development. Read more here... The development of the "bomb" turned the world upside down. It signaled the start of the Cold War with the Soviet Union.J. Robert Oppenheimer
The leader of the project was J. Robert Oppenheimer, a physicist at the University of California (Berkeley). His health lead him to spend time outside in and around the vicinity of Los Alamos. When searching for a suitable self-contained site, he recommended the city to General Groves, who ran the Manhattan Project for the Army. Oppenheimer is a huge figure in this development effort Every student of American history should understand the impact that the Manhattan Project had on the world and Oppenheimer's role in that effort. Read more about him here...
Atomic Bomb
The effort to build the Atomic Bomb consumed huge resources of the U.S. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Conner recalls rising early with her father on their ranch in rural Arizona one morning when it was still dark outside. They saw a bright light in the distance that they could not account for at the time. It was the first explosion of the Atomic Bomb at Trinity Site.This is the only color photo of the first atomic bomb explosion. Read more about it here...
Los Alamos Ranch School
The original main school building, Fuller Lodge, is very special. Read about it below.The school was a private boarding school for boys in Los Alamos County, New Mexico, near Otowi, in what would eventually become Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was founded by Detroit businessman Ashley Pond II, father of Peggy Pond Church, renowned New Mexican poet and author.[1]
The school, which was established in 1917, offered a program modeled after the Boy Scouts of America, combining a college preparatory curriculum with a rigorous outdoor life. Famous alumni included William S. Burroughs, Gore Vidal[1][2] and Santa Fe Opera founder John Crosby.[3]
In November 1942, the school and the surrounding land were purchased by the United States Army's Manhattan Engineering District for use in the top-secret effort to develop the first atomic bomb. The school awarded its final diplomas in January 1943 and the Army took control of the property the following month.[1]
[The Army gave notice to the school that they had 5 months to clear out. In order to provide a diploma for the school year, academics were accelerated for a January end date. This was a very interesting school. All the boys had to where short pants, including in the winter, with knee socks to ward of the cold. Many of the children were sent there to offset some kind of sickness or health condition.]
The site was chosen for the Manhattan Project because of its isolation, access to water, the fact that it had pre-existing buildings which could be used for housing, the fact that much of the surrounding land was already owned by the federal government, had ample space, and was located on a mesa in which all entrances could be secured. The facility originally was referred to as "Site Y", but would later become known as Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, then Los Alamos National Laboratory. During World War II, the school's Fuller Lodge and the Big House were used as social gathering places for Los Alamos project personnel, and some other buildings were used for housing. The school buildings were known as "Bathtub Row" because they were the only houses in Los Alamos with bathtubs.[4]
Currently, Fuller Lodge serves as the site of the Los Alamos Historical Museum. The main part of the Lodge is open for visitor viewing and is frequently used for meetings or weddings. The Los Alamos Art Center is housed in the south wing by Central Avenue.The lodge is located almost in the middle of the town.
The end houses offices, both on the main floor and the second above.
It was built of local timber and looks as rustic as you might imagine a western building.
The main hall opens to the yard on the left. Rooms (now offices) are on the right.
Check out the would work at the second floor level.
Both ends of the lodge have large fireplaces.
View looking from center of main lodge hall to the far end.
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