Bradbury Science Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1953 |
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| Location | Los Alamos, New Mexico |
The Bradbury Science Museum is a cool place to learn about science and history. It's the main public part of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States. The museum first opened in 1953.
It was named after Norris E. Bradbury, who was the second director of the Laboratory from 1945 to 1970. You can see many interesting things there. Some exhibits show items and documents from the World War II Manhattan Project. This was a secret project that developed the first atomic bombs.
The museum also has full-size models of the "Little Boy" and "Fat Man" atomic bombs. These were the bombs used at the end of World War II. The best part is that it's free to visit!
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How the Museum Started
Back in 1953, a person named Robert Krohn thought the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory needed a museum. He wanted a place to keep important historical items from weapons research. Krohn convinced Norris Bradbury, the Laboratory's director, that a museum would be a great idea. It could save the Laboratory's history and teach official visitors about its work.
The first museum was in an old ice house. It was located near Ashley Pond, across from Fuller Lodge. This ice house already had a strong vault door. This made it safe enough to keep the secret exhibits Krohn wanted to protect. The ice house Museum opened its doors to official visitors in 1954.
In 1963, Robert Porton, who worked in community relations, wanted to add more exhibits. He thought the museum should have things that were not secret, so the public could see them.
Opening to the Public
Norris Bradbury agreed to move the non-secret exhibits to a public area. Soon, documents and photos from World War II were on display. These showed how the town and the Laboratory grew. There were also scientific items and working models of research projects. In its first year, 14,000 people visited the museum. They came from all 50 states and 40 different countries!
By 1965, the museum needed more space. It moved to a bigger building. The number and types of exhibits grew quickly. Many hands-on models were added by scientists from the Laboratory.
Honoring Norris Bradbury
In 1970, the museum was renamed the Norris E. Bradbury Science Museum. This honored the Laboratory's second director, Norris Bradbury. Later, its official name was shortened to just the Bradbury Science Museum.
The museum got a big makeover in 1981. The old, donated exhibits were replaced with new, professionally designed ones. It started to feel like a formal museum. New technology was added, like videotapes, videodisks, and interactive computer programs. Some new items included a Mark 12A warhead and models of satellites.
Moving to a New Home
By 1987, about 80,000 people visited the museum each year. Finding parking for all these visitors became a problem. So, Laboratory officials started looking for a new place for the museum.
In April 1993, the museum moved to its current home. It is now in the middle of downtown Los Alamos. The building was designed by William Agnew and Associates.
What You Can See Today
Today, the museum has about 40 interactive exhibits. These exhibits tell the story of the World War II Manhattan Project. They also show the Laboratory's past and present research in defense and technology. You can learn about national security, how nuclear weapons are kept safe, and other science fields.
Some newer exhibits teach about the history of supercomputers. You can also learn about the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center. There are exhibits on Los Alamos's help with the Mars Science Laboratory (which includes the Curiosity rover). Other topics include nanotechnology, algae biofuels, and high explosives. It's a great place to explore and learn about amazing science!
See also
- American Museum of Science and Energy
- National Atomic Testing Museum
- National Museum of Nuclear Science & History
