Destination: Kirkland Air Force Base’s National Atomic Museum. Run by the Department of Energy, this is probably the single best place to learn about the building of nuclear weapons of war, how they were used, and how they were tested. The museum features a great archive of historical documents and films and relics of the Cold War, including B-52 and B-29 bombers, a 280mm atomic cannon, bomb casings and lots of other cool but scary stuff. The web site is http://www.atomictourist.com/natatom.htm
Destination: White Sands Missile Range. Between Alamogordo and Las Cruces in the barren but beautiful New Mexican desert, this 40-mile wide, 100-mile long piece of turf is where the US Government has tested just about every weapons system imaginable, and some they simple aren’t talking about. All the space stuff was tested here in the von Braun days. Robert Goddard, that crazy and very paranoid missile man, hung out here way back when as well. The centerpiece for visitors (besides miles of deadly, inhospitable desert terrain) is the missile park, where you can see about 40 different types or rocket ordnance as well as 1 of only 5 remaining V-2s. They do have a gift shop, by the way, so get your car packed, bring some cash, and head out to the Land of Enchantment.
Destination: Trinity Site. Still in New Mexico, and still right in the vicinity of White Sands, this place is really and truly the birthplace of the US nuclear program. This is where the very first bomb was exploded, on the morning of July 16, 1945. You can visit this site two times a year, in April and October, and you can walk right up to the exact ground zero spot! Yes, you can do that, and there’s something almost poetical about this. Be aware that there still happens to be a little bit of residual radiation here, but it’s low, so perhaps those who are young or pregnant should skip it? Other than that, it’s perfectly safe. Maybe. Oh, they do warn you not to touch the green, glassy substance you will sometimes find on the ground here. Just don’t even think of touching it. The site to visit to get the complete lowdown on this oh-so-strange tourist site is http://www.vivanewmexico.com/nm/sw.trini... Oh, about that green glass, the web site explains that:
