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Is Los Alamos worth a trip from ABQ? I understand the actual Lab/s are closed/secured to the general public and probably secured to military personnel without clearance. Do they have, maybe a museum close by that is for the general public?
In the past, the main attraction for tourists within Los Alamos was the Bradbury Science Museum. From the interesting NPS link that alloo66 provided, it sounds like there are several Manhattan Project structures that can be viewed as well as a Los Alamos History Museum. The town is built on four long mesas with steep canyons and has a certain attractiveness. I also find it interesting to drive by some of the national laboratory Technical Areas with their mix of large research facilities and old WWII era industrial buildings. You cannot get that close but the Visitor Center personnel can probably guide you to the more accessible areas.
If you have not been that way, the 2 1/2 hour scenic drive from Bernalillo through the Village of Jemez Springs and the Valles Caldera National Preserve on Highway 4 is wonderful but it may not be the right season for this. The Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon is an interesting stop in Jemez Springs. Not sure about the food but I love the old bar. There are hot springs in the area including one about 7 miles north of the Village and a quarter mile from Hwy 4.
Then there is the Bandelier National Monument. Some parts of the monument are currently closed and entry requires taking a shuttle during busy times of the year. Visit the National Park website for details and driving directions (access directly from Los Alamos may require that you show your driver's license and be subject to a random search).
The approach from Espanola to Los Alamos on Hwy 502 through White Rock has some pretty forest land but I like the dramatic very steep hairpin road approach from Hwy 502 to Hwy 501 straight into the town. The Manhattan Project Main Gate replica is along that stretch near the airport.
Thank you both for your helpful information and link. Since seeing the movie Oppenheimer, I would definitely like to spend a day up there, I have a fondness for science and history...
Have you been to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, here in Albuquerque? It's a major science museum (affiliated with the Smithsonian) and has displays on the Manhattan Project. If you like science and history it's a must see. You can spend several hours there. Also has several aircraft and missiles on the grounds around the museum. People come from around the country to visit it.
Sometimes it seems like people who live here don't know about the amazing things right here under our noses. I don't mean you, OP, but just speaking in general.
Yes I have, and I did enjoy the visit. Took a bunch of pictures and the old vintage B-52 is impressive to see. I believe they also had a vintage MIG, I think a MIG-17 if I'm not mistaken.
Thank you both for your helpful information and link. Since seeing the movie Oppenheimer, I would definitely like to spend a day up there, I have a fondness for science and history...
The science museum runs a film several times/day on the history of selecting and developing the site, and other historical info. Definitely worth watching.
In the past, the main attraction for tourists within Los Alamos was the Bradbury Science Museum. From the interesting NPS link that alloo66 provided, it sounds like there are several Manhattan Project structures that can be viewed as well as a Los Alamos History Museum. The town is built on four long mesas with steep canyons and has a certain attractiveness. I also find it interesting to drive by some of the national laboratory Technical Areas with their mix of large research facilities and old WWII era industrial buildings. You cannot get that close but the Visitor Center personnel can probably guide you to the more accessible areas.
If you have not been that way, the 2 1/2 hour scenic drive from Bernalillo through the Village of Jemez Springs and the Valles Caldera National Preserve on Highway 4 is wonderful but it may not be the right season for this. The Los Ojos Restaurant and Saloon is an interesting stop in Jemez Springs. Not sure about the food but I love the old bar. There are hot springs in the area including one about 7 miles north of the Village and a quarter mile from Hwy 4.
Then there is the Bandelier National Monument. Some parts of the monument are currently closed and entry requires taking a shuttle during busy times of the year. Visit the National Park website for details and driving directions (access directly from Los Alamos may require that you show your driver's license and be subject to a random search).
The approach from Espanola to Los Alamos on Hwy 502 through White Rock has some pretty forest land but I like the dramatic very steep hairpin road approach from Hwy 502 to Hwy 501 straight into the town. The Manhattan Project Main Gate replica is along that stretch near the airport.
I did visit Jemez Springs this last Fall, and I saw the sites e.g. Soda Dam, BattleShip Rock (I think that is what they call it), and of course Valles Caldera National Preserve.
Well, I made it up to Los Alamos yesterday. What enriching trip back in History, went through the two museums and saw Dr. Oppenheimers house he and his wife lived in during the time he worked on the Manhattan Project. Nice view from the Smiths Market/Starbucks. I stopped for coffee at the Starbucks cause I got into town earlier than I had planned. They had some huge donuts at the Smiths, and I did not oblige. I did not go to the Lab as the Museum Curator told me that there is nothing really to see, you can't go beyond the Cafateria without a badge. I am glad I went, what I learned was just fascinating.
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