National Museum of Nuclear Science & History - Exhibits and Displays

Exhibits and Displays

Section source: NMoNSH

The Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting information about scientific, historic, and cultural aspects of the Atomic Age. Permanent exhibits focus on:

Chronology of Nuclear History — the history of early nuclear science research, including:

• an account of earliest insights into the atomic structure of matter and the elements
• an extensive biographical display of Madame Marie Curie
• poignant discussion of early victims of unknowning radiation exposure such as Sister Blandina, a German nun who worked as an X-ray radiographer and subsequently died from improper radiography operating practices.

Waging Peace — The Challenge of Nuclear Stewardship — An extensive timeline display that explores arms control efforts from the Medieval and Middle Ages (Peace and Truce of God), through World War I, through the rearmament of Germany and World War II, to nuclear weapons non-proliferation treaties during the Cold War.

They Built the Bomb — A biographical information display about Manhattan Project scientists, engineers, and administrators such as Emilio G. Segrè, J. Robert Oppenheimer, William S. Parsons, and Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves; and lesser-known technicians and support personnel (especially women) such as Elizabeth "Diz" Riddle Graves, Dorothy McKibbin, and Eleanor "Jerry" Roensch (née Stone).

The Decision to Drop — A series of displays striving for objective examination of the history leading up to, and the policy decisions regarding, deployment of the first nuclear weapons code-named Little Boy and Fat Man. Panels feature reflection on the consequences of their use from viewpoints of both sides of the debate (see Debate over the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki).

The exhibit includes text of comments by Manhattan Project staff (including a contentious Edward Teller statement advocating a high-altitude night-time demonstration detonation over Tokyo to precipitate Japanese surrender), text of statements by Japanese politicians and military leaders, a copy of the petition protesting use without warning submitted by nuclear physicist Leó Szilárd, and photographs from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The display also features video footage of the reminiscences of Col. Paul Tibbets (pilot of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan), and coverage of the emotion the surrender of Japan produced in the United States.

Cold War — An examination of the strategic conflict between the United States and the USSR in the second half of the 20th Century, through US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands and at the Nevada Test Site, Soviet nuclear development, the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and leading to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.

Palomares — An extensive accounting of the January 17, 1966 Palomares B-52 crash — a mid-air collision between two USAF aircraft (a B-52 bomber and a KC-135 tanker) over Palomares, Almería resulting in radioactive contamination following the accidental dropping of four hydrogen bombs.

Nuclear Medicine: Seeing is Healing — A display of early and modern medical equipment using principles of nuclear physics.

Little Al's Lab — An area presided over by an animatronic version of Albert Einstein, provides hands-on science encounter activities for children.

Power Up — A series of displays focusing on civilian use of nuclear power including:

• history of nuclear reactors and discussion of their engineering principles
• examination of nuclear power accidents, safety engineering, and waste treatment/storage
• models of the American Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station and French Superphénix Fast breeder reactor
• a model of the NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship
• nuclear energy as one part of a spectrum of alternative energy-producing methods

What's Hot, What's Not — Radiation in the World Around Us — A display of everyday items and activities that expose people to ionizing radiation.

Traveling Exhibits — An area devoted to different temporary exhibits.

Both self-guided and docent-led tours are available.