“Secret Cities” Behind the Making of the Atomic Bomb at National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.
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“Secret Cities: The Architecture and Planning of the Manhattan Project” at the National Building Museum explores the three new “secret cities” that were created to accommodate the tens of thousands of people who worked to produce the atomic bomb. The
“Secret Cities” Behind the Making of the Atomic Bomb at National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.
“Secret Cities: The Architecture and Planning of the Manhattan Project” at the National Building Museum explores the three new “secret cities” that were created to accommodate the tens of thousands of people who worked to produce the atomic bomb. The exhibition is on view through March 3, 2019.The military initiative to build the atomic bomb, known as the Manhattan Project, is considered one of the most significant milestones in the history of science. “The project laid the foundation not only for the Cold War, which raised the specter of global annihilation, but also nuclear power, as well as radiological medical applications that have saved countless lives,” writes the museum.The exhibition presents original documents, photos, artifacts, maps, and models, that examine the three secret cities — Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Hanford/Richland, Washington; and Los Alamos, New Mexico.“The speed and scale of construction of these cities were in many ways unprecedented. Influenced by the planned community movement and heavily reliant on prefabricated construction, these cities were in many ways proving grounds for emerging ideas about design and planning. Begun in late 1942, they collectively housed a total of more than 125,000 people by the end of the war in August 1945. Yet these cities appeared on no maps, and their existence was a remarkably well-maintained secret until the bombing of Hiroshima,” reveals the museum. “Secret Cities” looks at the cities as case studies in modern urban planning and building technology, and provides a peek into the distinct way of life that emerged at each site. “The exhibition also explores the architectural and planning legacy of the Manhattan Project, including its role in the emergence of multidisciplinary corporate architecture and engineering firms, as exemplified by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), which oversaw the design of Oak Ridge. The exhibition also explores the postwar development of the three cities, which remain important centers of scientific research today,” adds the museum.“Secret Cities” is on view through March 3, 2019, at the National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20001, US.For more information, visit: https://www.nbm.orgClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the exhibition. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more
