Telling The Story Of The Manhattan Project

By Megan Kamerick • Jun 20, 2016

KUNM Call In Show 6/23 8a: (listen here)

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park was formally established last year and plans are underway to create facilities in Los Alamos, Oakridge, Tennessee, and Hanford, Washington. The idea is to tell the stories behind the creation of the first atomic bomb. But critics worry the new park could glorify or gloss over controversial issues, such as using the weapons on Japan, and the impacts on communities from nuclear weapons testing.

How will the story of creating the atomic bomb be told? What does it mean to have these sites under the banner of the National Parks Service? Whose voices do you think should be included? Email callinshow@kunm.org or call in live during the show.

Guests:

• Tracy Atkins, interim superintendent, Manhattan Project National Historical Park
• Tina Cordova, co-founder, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Association
• Heather McClenahan, executive director, Los Alamos Historical Society
• Greg Mello, co-founder, Los Alamos Study Group
• U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico

Resource:

• Manhattan Project National Historical Park website
• Memorandum of Understanding Between Departments of Interior And Energy To Establish the Park
• Los Alamos Marks Opening Of Manhattan Project Park - Santa Fe New Mexican
• As Manhattan Project Park Takes Shape Challenges Loom - Sante Fe New Mexican
• NPS Seeks Input On Manhattan Project Park - Los Alamos Monitor
• Manhattan Project Park Scholars' Forum Report - Atomic Heritage Foundation
• Downwinders Tie Health Problems To Atomic Tests - Cronkite News
• Residents Near Tularosa Seek Obama Visit - Associated Press
• Inhabited Desert: The Untold Story Of The Trinity Test - KUNM
• When Kodak Accidentally Discovered A-Bomb Testing - Popular Mechanics
• Dropping Atomic Bombs Saving Millions (yes millions) Of Lives - Op Ed in Santa Fe New Mexican