Oak Ridge in Anderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

X-10 – The Clinton Laboratories

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

1. X-10 – The Clinton Laboratories Marker

Inscription. In December 1942 University of Chicago physicists demonstrated that the newly discovered element plutonium could be made using a “pile” of uranium and graphite blocks. Aware that Germany was seeking to develop a weapon of unprecedented scale, the United States government constructed a much larger device called the Graphite Reactor at “X-10”, in Bethel Valley, 15 miles southwest of here that became part of the “Manhattan Project”. With Nobel Laureates Enrico Fermi and Arthur Compton present, the Graphite Reactor on November 4, 1943 began making isotopes that included the quantities of plutonium urgently needed to design the separation processes for the huge production reactors in Hanford, Washington, that produced the fuel for the second nuclear weapon that helped end Word War II. The Laboratory’s first director was Martin Whitaker. Eugene Wigner, who later was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics, became research director in 1946. In 1947 the Army transferred the Manhattan Project facilities to civilian control under the Atomic Energy Commission, ushering in a new research mission for what

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became known, first as the Clinton National Laboratory, and later as Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Laboratory’s research program grew steadily due in part to mouse biology studies of radiation and Nobel Laureate Clifford Shull’s pioneering work in neutron science. Over the next half-century hundreds of scientific discoveries and inventions at ORNL established the Laboratory as one of the world’s great centers of scientific research with unique capabilities in neutron science, nanophase materials, and high-performance computing. Operated today for the Department of Energy, “X-10” has evolved from its wartime role with the Manhattan Project to a modern mission that addresses national scientific challenges in energy, environment, and national security.

Erected in Honor of the Scientists, Engineers, Managers, and Support Staffs Who Built and Operated this Forerunner of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory By UT-Battelle, June 2005.

Erected 2005 by UT-Battelle.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

2. X-10 – The Clinton Laboratories Marker

Tennessee - Oak Hill - Secret City Commemorative Walk series list.

Location. 36° 0.819′ N, 84° 15.473′ W. Marker is in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is at the intersection of Oak Ridge Turnpike (Tennessee Route 95) and South Tulane Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Oak Ridge Turnpike. Marker located in Alvin K. Bissell Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oak Ridge TN 37830, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1943 (here, next to this marker); Oak Ridge – Secret City

X-10 – The Graphite Reactor image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. X-10 – The Graphite Reactor

(here, next to this marker); ORINS / ORAU (here, next to this marker); 1945 (here, next to this marker); 1942 (here, next to this marker); Construction Workers (here, next to this marker); 1949 (here, next to this marker); Oak Ridge and the Manhattan Project (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oak Ridge.

Also see . . .
1. Secret City Commemorative Walk. (Submitted on January 6, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. Oak Ridge, TN. (Submitted on January 6, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
3. X-10 Graphite Reactor. (Submitted on January 6, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Secret City Commemorative Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

4. Secret City Commemorative Walk

Photographed by Tom Bosse, December 30, 2017

5. Secret City Commemorative Walk

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2018. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 690 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 6, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.