The Manhattan Project
"In view of the situation you may think it desirable to have more permanent contact maintained between the Administration and the group of physicists working on chain reactions in America. One possible way of achieving this might be for you to entrust with this task a person who has your confidence and who could perhaps serve in an inofficial capacity." - Einstein-Szilard Letter
The Manhattan Project spread out over the entire United States, basing in universities and factories to research and enrich uranium.
"The letter substantially increased the speed with which actions were taken as well as the magnitude of the activity. Absent the letter, it is likely there would’ve been several studies to determine what actions should be pursued. With the letter and the associated credibility (from Einstein’s name), the actions came immediately and eventually with a tremendous magnitude. Several “secret cities” were established, the best and brightest scientists were called to service, completely new contracting mechanisms were established, and facilities were built to pursue the science and engineering needed to not just study the weapon but also produce two different types of weapons, lest one didn't work." - Dr. Adam Cohen
The first nuclear bomb, Trinity, was detonated at Los Alamos, New Mexico, a well-known research center.
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." - Bhagavad Gita, J. Robert Oppenheimer's first reaction to the success of the test (Sheinkin, Bomb)
Excerpt from "Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie"
Trinity test at Los Alamos |
Aerial view of Trinity damage |
Remnants of the tower for the bomb |
"This new phenomenon would also lead to the construction of bombs, and it is conceivable - though much less certain - that extremely powerful bombs of a new type may thus be constructed. A single bomb of this type, carried by boat and exploded in a port, might very well destroy the whole port together with some of the surrounding territory." - Einstein-Szilard Letter
Censorship sign at Los Alamos |
Project symbol |
Manhattan Project sites |
J. Robert Oppenheimer, Director of Los Alamos |
General Leslie R. Groves, Project Director |
Professor Enrico Fermi |