Los Alamos in Los Alamos County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Los Alamos Ranch School Dormitory

The Big House

Photographed by James Hulse, March 25, 2025

1. Los Alamos Ranch School Dormitory Marker

Inscription. From 1917 until 1948, the Los Alamos Ranch School dormitory, known as the Big House-because it was the largest building on the Pajarito Plateau when it was built-stood near this site. While students had desks and dressers in their rooms, they slept on unheated, screened porches, no matter what the weather or the time of year. The building also contained study rooms, a library, and classrooms.

During the Manhattan Project, the visiting scientists stayed in the Big House. The Atomic Energy Commission tore down the building to make way for the Community Center, a planned shopping center that is now known as Central Park Square.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1917.

Location. 35° 52.982′ N, 106° 18.075′ W. Marker is in Los Alamos, New Mexico, in Los Alamos County. It is on 19th Street south of Nectar Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located along the back wall of the shopping center building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 176 19th St, Los Alamos NM 87544, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern New Mexico.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Big House (a few steps from this marker); Bathtub Row (a few steps from this marker); Ancestral Pueblo Site (a few steps from this marker); Fire Cache

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(within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Romero Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Five Eras of History (within shouting distance of this marker); Hitching Rail (within shouting distance of this marker); Hans Bethe House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Alamos.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Romero Cabin (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Homesteading on the Pajarito Plateau, 1887-1942 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Martha Brook (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Albert J. Connell (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Harold H. Brook (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); William Mackwood Hopper (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

The large photo of the Los Alamos Ranch School Dormitory next to the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 25, 2025

2. The large photo of the Los Alamos Ranch School Dormitory next to the Marker

The view of the Los Alamos Ranch School Dormitory Marker along the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 25, 2025

3. The view of the Los Alamos Ranch School Dormitory Marker along the street

Credits. This page was last revised on April 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 9, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.