Women, the Atomic Bomb & Secrets of the Manhattan Project

I first became fascinated with the making of the atomic bomb through the Manhattan Project after reading The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan.

The secrecy involved in creating a giant research facility in the middle of the desert intrigued me. I decided to seek out more information.

The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

I chose the Tauck escorted tour of New Mexico because it included a visit to The National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque.

The U.S. Congress established The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in 1969 as a place to learn the story of the Atomic Age. It covers from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology.

Critical Assembly at the Manhattan Project

This room recreates the Manhattan Project scientists’ experiments at Los Alamos to determine when plutonium would go “critical” in an atomic bomb. 

The Manhattan Project

The government started The Manhattan Project in response to fears that German scientists had been working on a weapon using nuclear technology since the 1930s—and that Adolf Hitler was prepared to use it.

The United States led the project with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer headed the project to develop the atomic bomb.

Its name originated from the fact that it was part of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and organized under the Manhattan Engineer District in New York City.

Need for Secrecy about Manhattan Project

A key component of keeping the Manhattan Project secret was making sure project sites were secret and secure. One reason the Manhattan Engineers District selected Los Alamos, NM, Oak Ridge, TN, and Hanford, WA as project sites was their geographic isolation.

Each worker at the Manhattan Project underwent a rigorous background check conducted by the FBI. Each site had multiple security checkpoints guarded by military police twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Tall barbed-wire fencing surrounded each site’s perimeter. This prevented any intruders from gaining unwanted access to key buildings. As a result, it also deterred any employee from possibly sneaking out with classified documents.

At all the sites, signs and billboards admonished workers to protect the project’s secrets.

 

The Atomic Bombs

By July 1945 the United States had produced enough fuel for three complete bombs: “Gadget” (plutonium), “Little Boy” (uranium), and “Fat Man” (plutonium).

The “Gadget” was the implosion plutonium device detonated in the Trinity Test in July 1945. As a result of this successful test, the U.S. dropped “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, killing at least 70,000 people instantly. “Fat Man” followed on Nagasaki, three days later.

News of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, stunned the world with its devastating effect.

Many physicists opposed the actual use of the atomic bomb, however, U.S. President, Harry S. Truman, believed that the bomb would persuade Japan to surrender without requiring an American invasion.

The Girls of Atomic City

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan is the book that introduced me to the Manhattan Project and the role of women in the development of the atomic bomb. This is the incredible story of the young women of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who unwittingly played a crucial role in one of the most significant moments in U.S. history.

They came from all across the United States, to a city not found on any map. They were forbidden to talk about their work, even to each other.

Creation of a City

In 1942 our government built the secret Tennessee town of Oak Ridge from scratch. Even though it was home to more than 75,000 people, it didn’t appear on any maps until 1949. To fill the many jobs, they recruited young women from small towns across the South. Although their jobs were a mystery, the women shared a purpose and developed close friendships.

Penalty for Talking

 The penalty for talking about their work–even the most harmless details–was job loss and eviction. Some women had to spy on their coworkers. They all knew something big was happening, but few could piece together the true nature of their work. The secret finally came out when “Little Boy” was dropped over Hiroshima, Japan. The shocking revelation was that they were enriching uranium for the atomic bomb.

Gatekeeper to Los Alamos

I purchased Gatekeeper to Los Alamos: Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin at a store in Santa Fe. In March 1943, Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin took a position that sent her into the center of the Manhattan Project. Her office at 109 East Palace Avenue in Santa Fe was the entry point for all the scientists, technicians and their families who came to Los Alamos.

No one could go to Los Alamos without first reporting to 109 East Palace, the small Santa Fe office that was a front for the classified laboratory.

Dorothy issued the security passes that everyone presented at the heavily guarded Main Gate at Los Alamos.

109 East Palace

I visited 109 East Palace in Santa Fe, located behind a wrought-iron gate and narrow passageway just off the old plaza. Today, it is full of flower vendors. In the corner of this cheery courtyard sits the former office of Robert Oppenheimer. I spotted 109 East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos by Jennet Conant next to the flowers.

The book describes how new employees traveled to New Mexico to report to work. They were told to report to 109 East Palace which was a classified location. This is the story of Robert Oppenheimer and the secret city of Los Alamos.

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Summary

The National Museum of Atomic Science and History is a wonderful place for any family member interested in science or history. It is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Pricing is:

Adults 18-59 – $14
Seniors 60+ – $12
Youth 6-17 – $10
Children 5 and under – Free
Veterans – $8
Active Military (and dependents) – $7

Admission includes a visit to Heritage Park, a nine-acre outdoor exhibit area. It is complete with planes, rockets, missiles, cannons and nuclear sub sail. This wide-open exhibit area attracts plane buffs and historians alike. The museum collection is the largest aircraft collection for public viewing in the state of New Mexico.