In eerie darkness, guests sit in the Atomic Museum's intimate Ground Zero Theater, where a simulation of an above-ground test goes off every 15 minutes. First, a countdown, then a burst of light. Then an even brighter flash, followed by a fiery mushroom cloud, the rumble of the benches and the sound of a blast.
Las Vegas visitors whose curiosity is sparked by the new movie "Oppenheimer" can tour the Atomic Museum to further explore the science and technology as well as the implications of nuclear testing.
The self-guided tour not only includes information about Robert Oppenheimer, the man who spearheaded the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, but additional political context that led to the development of the Nevada Test Site in 1951.
An exhibit at the Atomic Museum explores underground testing at the Nevada Test Site. Photo Credit: Atomic Museum
The site, then known as the Nevada Proving Grounds and now known as the Nevada National Security Site, about 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, was established for testing the new weapons. Before 1962, mushroom clouds from atmospheric tests could be seen in Las Vegas and up to 100 miles away. Underground tests continued at the site until 1992. More than 1,000 tests were conducted over the four decades.
Previously known as the National Atomic Testing Museum, the museum rebranded last year as the Atomic Museum, better reflecting its broader mission of increasing knowledge about social, political and popular culture effects of the nuclear industry throughout the world.
"Atomic and Vegas are two of the most powerful words in the English language," said Rob McCoy, the museum's CEO. "Combining the two only enhances our appeal to broader audiences. By adding new and expanded perspectives related to nuclear history at the museum, we look forward to engendering a greater sense of excitement and curiosity for all things atomic."
The collection includes thousands of rare photographs, videos and more than 3,500 artifacts and reports.
A towering model of a diagnostic rack in the museum's underground testing gallery shows how it held nuclear weapons and other equipment in place in holes as deep as 2,000 feet.
Current Atomic Museum exhibits
Among the rotating exhibits are "The Bomb Without the Boom," which demonstrates how today's scientists use lasers, small amounts of explosives and computers to ensure the safety and reliability of the county's nuclear weapons stockpile without underground testing.
"Trinity -- The Day the World Changed" includes a replica of the first atomic bomb, and "Beyond the Manhattan Project" explores how the Department of Energy's Environmental Management team cleans sites affected by decades of nuclear weapons production and nuclear energy research.
The museum's "Atomic Testing in Pop Culture" exhibit features atomic-themed comic books, candy, children's toys and other artifacts related to atomic tourism in Las Vegas.
The "Spy" exhibit details how the National Security Agency collected telemetry intelligence about foreign governments' missiles and space vehicles, helping the U.S. keep pace with the technology. Photo Credit: Atomic Museum
The museum also currently houses the "Spy" exhibit in partnership with the National Security Agency's National Cryptologic Museum in Fort Meade, Md. The exhibit, which is not permanent but currently has no end date, details how the NSA collected telemetry intelligence about foreign governments' missiles and space vehicles, helping the U.S. keep pace with the technology.
A steel beam from the World Trade Center marks the beginning of the war on terrorism and how first responders from across the nation come to Nevada to learn about the nuclear materials terrorists might use.
The nonprofit Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation operates the Atomic Museum, one of 37 museums designated as an affiliate partner of the Smithsonian Institution.
The museum (755 E. Flamingo Road, just more than a mile east of the Strip) is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (to 5 p.m. after Sept. 15). General admission tickets are $29 (plus tax and fees) with discounts for seniors, military and first responders. Guests should allow 1-2 hours to visit.
Have a blast at Las Vegas' Atomic Museum