My sister lives in Los Alamos. This is not somewhere that I would have visited had she not moved there! It is however a town full of history and, in some ways, it is one of the most famous places in the US (that you may never have heard of!).
Los Alamos is home to the National Labs, which is what brought my sister there in the first place.
The Labs were founded to undertake the Manhattan Project, in secret, during the Second World War. The development of the atom bomb, and the subsequent growth of the Labs, is what made the town of Los Alamos.
Before the Manhattan Project arrived, the town housed (in fact, the town was) the Los Alamos Ranch School, and this was forcibly taken over by the Department of Defence for the Project. The town grew up around the old Ranch School as scientists, the military and support staff arrived and the Project expanded.
Today, the town is largely made up of staff (and spouses of staff) at the Labs. It is a small, quiet town and the nearest ‘big’ shops are 45 minutes away in Santa Fe. It’s not somewhere that I could imagine living (a bit too quiet for me), but everyone I speak to who lives there loves it – the quality of life, the weather, the safety, the strength of the family community.
As a holiday ‘destination’ it has a surprising amount to do! Within the town are the Bradbury Science Museum, the Historical Museum and the Art Center, along with a few nice cafes and restaurants, although these close by 8pm most nights! There are numerous play parks and a great library. The farmers market is a weekly must do and during the summer there are concerts on a Friday evening next to Ashley Pond (although this is currently a huge hole in the ground as the make repairs and reinstate it!). In the surrounding area are Bandelier (post to follow!), the Pajarito Ski Hill, the Jemez mountains, with the giant Valles Caldera (extinct volcano) and Jemez Falls and it is an easy drive into Santa Fe (another post to follow!).
Each time we visit we make sure that we head to the historical museum and the science museum.
The boys love the science museum – for the toys and games in one room! This trip they built a space station :)
The wee girl had fun too!
Although she spent most of the time running around the museum – which suited me as it meant that I could have a wander around the exhibits. I’ve been to the museum several times, but it is still fascinating. Exhibits range from the Manhattan Project, though the further development of nuclear weapons to the current (non-classified!) work at the Lab. There is also information on the forest fires that have devastated the surrounding area, the most recent of which, in 2011, saw my sister and her family evacuated from the town – along with all other residents!
One of my favourite exhibits is this one:
I am glad to see that, even in Los Alamos, the debate is welcomed and encouraged. Whatever your views are on the origins of the atom bomb, and whether it was justified/necessary at the time or not (and I will be honest and say that I am in the ‘not’ camp), I believe it is important that the debate stays alive – it is not something that we can be complacent about, even now.
Where the Science Museum focuses on the technology, research and development carried out at the Lab, the Historical Museum takes a more personal view of the town. Starting from the volcanoes that formed the Pajarito Plateau on which the town sits; through the early settlement by Native Indians and the later homesteaders; to the Ranch School (where boys were educated and ‘toughened up’!) and the Manhattan Project (taking a walk through the town, the military housing, the censorship and propaganda of the time); it is a fascinating journey through the history of the town.
There are a few things for the kids to do, and this time grinding corn was the winner!
We always have a lovely time visiting Los Alamos, the fact my sister and her family live there is obviously the draw, but it is a great place to kick back and relax; enjoy the weather, the outdoors and nature; immerse yourself in a bit of history; and simply enjoy a different pace of life.
