Integratron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Integratron
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The Integratron in October, 2017
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| Location | 2477 Belfield Boulevard, Landers, California |
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| Built | 1960 |
| Architect | George Van Tassel, Howard P. Hess |
| NRHP reference No. | 100002317 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 2018 |
The Integratron is a unique building located in Landers, California, near Joshua Tree. It is a tall, dome-shaped structure, about 38 feet (11.6 meters) high and 55 feet (16.8 meters) wide. It was designed by George Van Tassel, a man who was very interested in UFOs and claimed to have met people from other planets.
Van Tassel strongly believed that the Integratron could do amazing things. He claimed it could make people feel young again, help things float without gravity, and even allow people to travel through time! He said he got the instructions for building it directly from visitors from the planet Venus. Construction on the Integratron machine began in 1957, and the main building was finished in 1959. Most of the money for building it came from donations, including some funds from the famous businessman Howard Hughes.
After Van Tassel passed away in 1978, the building had several different owners and fell into disrepair. However, in the early 2000s, three sisters named Joanne, Nancy, and Patty Karl bought it. Today, the sisters say the Integratron is a "perfect sound structure." They offer tours and "sound baths," which are like meditation sessions where people listen to calming sounds made by special quartz bowls.
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Building the Integratron
George Van Tassel used to be an aircraft mechanic and flight inspector. He moved to the Mojave Desert in California to run an airport and an inn. While living there, he started meditating under a huge rock called Giant Rock. Native American tribes in the area considered this rock to be very special and sacred.
In August 1953, Van Tassel claimed that he was contacted by people from space. He said they spoke to him using their minds and later met him in person. They supposedly gave him a special method to make human cells young again. Following these instructions, Van Tassel started building the Integratron in 1954.
The money needed for construction partly came from popular yearly events called the Giant Rock Spacecraft Conventions. These were large gatherings for people interested in UFOs and space, and they continued for almost 25 years. The main Integratron building was mostly finished around 1959. Van Tassel kept working on his device until he died suddenly in 1978.
What Van Tassel Claimed It Could Do
Van Tassel believed the Integratron worked by creating strong, changing magnetic fields. He thought these fields would create a special kind of energy inside the building, like a glowing gas called plasma. He also thought it would fill the air with tiny electrically charged particles.
The Integratron was based on an invention called the Multiple Wave Oscillator. This machine uses a Tesla coil (which makes high voltage electricity) and a special ring to create many different kinds of invisible energy waves. Van Tassel thought these energy waves could affect living cells. He believed that every cell in our bodies has its own special energy frequency.
According to Van Tassel, the Integratron's strong energy waves would "recharge" our cells, just like charging a battery. He claimed that people's cells would become "rejuvenated" or young again when they were inside the structure. Van Tassel also said that the Integratron was built on a powerful natural magnetic spot on Earth. He made sure the building was made only from materials that are not magnetic, like a modern radome (a dome that protects radar equipment).
The Integratron Today
After George Van Tassel passed away, there was an idea to turn the Integratron into a disco, but this never happened. The current owners now run it as a place for tourists to visit. They offer "sound baths," where groups of people relax and listen to harmonious sounds made by quartz bowls. Many people say these sounds have a very calming effect. One of the guides at the Integratron describes it as a "perfect sound chamber" because of its unique acoustics.
The Integratron was recognized as an important historical site in April 2018 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Images for kids
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Overflight of The Integratron en route to Giant Rock airport (now closed), June 1975.
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Ceiling of the Integratron, January 2012
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Historical marker near the Integratron
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The Integratron during a Sound Bath session in 2017
See also
In Spanish: Integratron para niños
