Bradbury Science Museum

Bradbury Science Museum. Los Alamos Historic District Walking Tour. When the first museum for Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory (now Los Alamos National Laboratory) appeared in 1954 in an old ice house on the banks of Ashley Pond, its collection contained classified materials and it was not open to the general public. The Lab's need for a museum that showcased unclassified objects and welcomed all visitors was realized in 1963 with the opening of its Museum and Science Hall. With a growing collection and thousands of visitors, the Museum and Science Hall moved to a larger site at the Lab's Technical Area 3 (TA-3) in 1965. Visitors enjoyed exhibits such as the beloved "Pinocchio," a simulated chain reaction that used table-tennis balls. In 1970, the museum was renamed in honor of the Lab's longest-serving director, Norris E. Bradbury. In 1993, it moved to its present location. Today the museum explores the Lab's history, current research and innovations., Below: A magnetic compression demonstration was a part of the museum's first exhibit pieces. Right top to bottom: The Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory's first museum opened in 1954; Local Girl Scouts were among thousands of the museum's earliest visitors in the 1960s; The Laboratory's Museum and Science Hall opened in 1963. (photo courtesy LANL), Pick up a copy of the Historical Walking Tour Guide at the Los Alamos History Museum, Bradbury Science Museum, Los Alamos Nature Center, any of the Visitor Centers, or one of the visitor guide kiosks around town. Download one by scanning the QR code, or go to visitlosalamos.org.