Near Willow Springs in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The World’s First Nuclear Reactor

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, October 7, 2022

1. The World’s First Nuclear Reactor Marker

Inscription. The world’s first nuclear reactor was rebuilt at this site in 1943 after initial operation at the University of Chicago. This rector (CP-2) and the first heavy water moderated reactor (CP-3) were major facilities which around which developed the Argonne National Laboratory. This site was released by the laboratory in 1956 and the US Atomic Energy Commission then buried the reactors here

Erected 2021 by Atomic Energy Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, Forest Preserves of Cook County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1943.

Location. 41° 42.136′ N, 87° 54.755′ W. Marker is near Willow Springs, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from Palos Trail System - Brown Unpaved Trail (West) north of Pipeline Trail, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9084 Archer Avenue, Lemont IL 60439, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the

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Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Chicago Piles (here, next to this marker); You Are Now Entering Site A (within shouting distance of this marker); Caution - Do Not Dig (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dawn of the Atomic Age (approx. half a mile away); Saint James at Sag Bridge Church and Cemetery (approx. 1.1 miles away); Land of the Healing Waters (approx. 2.6 miles away); ...And It Came to Be (approx. 2.7 miles away); Willow Springs Civilian Conservation Corps Camp #612 (con’t…) (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Willow Springs.

More about this marker. Note: this is a replacement marker. In multiple published pictures, the original stone appeared cracked. When I arrived at the site, 10-7-2022, a newer, square block of granite had been installed, with the

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, October 7, 2022

2. The World’s First Nuclear Reactor Marker

same inscription. The old Atomic Energy Commission set the first stone in 1956, the newer U.S. Department of Energy (formerd in 1977), set the newer stone in 2021

Archived pic

3. The World’s First Nuclear Reactor Marker

Note: this is a replacement marker. In multiple published pictures, the original stone appeared cracked. When I arrived at the site, 10-7-2022, a newer, square block of granite had been installed, with the same inscription. The old Atomic Energy Commission set the first stone in 1956, the newer U.S. Department of Energy (formerd in 1977), set the newer stone in 2021

Entrance to park on Archer Avenue, Route 171 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, October 7, 2022

4. Entrance to park on Archer Avenue, Route 171

Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 674 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 18, 2022, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.