White Sands Proving Grounds in Socorro County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

McDonald Ranch House Trinity Site

National Historic Landmark

— 1972 —

McDonald Ranch House Trinity Site Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill O'Neill, April 7, 2007

1. McDonald Ranch House Trinity Site Marker

Inscription. Restored by US Army White Sands Missile Range US Department of Energy National Park Service 1984 In the front room of this humble ranch house the world's first nuclear device was assembled on 13 July 1945. The device was then taken to Trinity Site, two miles from here, where it was placed into a test bomb and detonated at dawn on 16 July 1945. This historic event signaled the dawn of a new age and was forever to change the human experience. While nuclear technology was born of war, it today serves mankind in countless humanitarian forms.

The McDonald Ranch House has been restored and will be preserved as it was on that fateful day in 1945 that future generations may come here to see this historic structure where an event occured that altered forever the course of history.

This site is dedicated to all those Americans who contributed to one of man's greatest technological conquests - the harnessing of the atom. Let this restored ranch house and its peaceful setting here in the shado of the Oscura Mountains be ever a reminder to all those who come here of America's solemn oblication to use the miraculous phenomenon of the atom to serve all mankind in its untold, yet unexplored opportunities. This is an obligation we dare not fail to meet.

Nile J. Fulwyler, Major General, USA, Commanding

Erected

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1984 by US Army White Sands Missile Range.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is July 13, 1945.

Location. 33° 39.035′ N, 106° 27.614′ W. Marker is in White Sands Proving Grounds, New Mexico, in Socorro County. It is on WSMR S Route 321. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: White Sands Missile Range NM 88002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest New Mexico and in the Rio Grande Valley.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Trinity Site (approx. 2 miles away).

The restored McDonald Ranch House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill O'Neill, April 7, 2007

2. The restored McDonald Ranch House

The Schmidt / McDonald Ranch House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill O'Neill, April 7, 2007

3. The Schmidt / McDonald Ranch House

Some historical background on the ranch and the bomb assembly.

The Schmidt family built the house image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill O'Neill, April 7, 2007

4. The Schmidt family built the house

History of the house.

Trinity Site Time Capsule image. Click for full size.

October 6, 2007

5. Trinity Site Time Capsule

U.S. Army, White Sands Missile Range, 1984, Time Capsule
Four feet southwest from this marker is buried a time capsule containing photos and documents pertaining to the restoration of the McDonald Ranch House. The capsule is not to be opened until the year of Our Lord 2009 during the annual Trinity tour.
Editor's Note: The capsule will be opened in October 2009.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 5, 2009, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,557 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 5, 2009, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 5. submitted on December 20, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.