National Museum of Nuclear Science & HistoryHistory
History
This section provides an overview of the history of the Manhattan Project, the key organizations involved, the science behind the bomb, and more.
100-ton TNT Shot
Before the Trinity test, Manhattan Project officials realized that a calibration explosion using ordinary high-explosives would be useful.
216th Army Air Forces Base Unit
The 216th AAF served a crucial role in the Manhattan Project by helping to design and drop test bombs at Wendover Airfield, Utah.
509th Composite Group
The 509th Composite Group was organized as the weapon delivery arm of the Manhattan Project.
African Americans and the Manhattan Project
African Americans played an important, though often overlooked, role on the Manhattan Project.
Alsos Mission
The Alsos Mission's goal was to learn how close Germany was to developing its own atomic weapon.
Atomic Accidents
Although the Manhattan Project was overall a surprisingly safe project, there were a few tragic accidents.
Atomic Age Design
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The development of nuclear weapons had a notable impact on many aspects of American culture, including design. Spanning the late 1940s through about 1960, Atomic Age design is characterized by references and responses to nuclear science and the atomic bomb.
Atomic Culture
Since the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, people in the United States and around the world have developed cultural expressions of the atomic bomb.
Atomic Energy Commission
The Atomic Energy Commission succeeded the Manhattan Engineer District in January 1947, when the Atomic Energy Act went into effect.
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