The town of Los Alamos is home to the LANL, which helped to develop nuclear weapons. Despite being a small town, Los Alamos has a lot to offer visitors. There is an interesting museum focused on the Manhattan Project and how the work here led to the development of the atomic bomb. The Los Alamos Historical Society has a number of informative displays and a film that will help visitors understand the history of the town.
The town is best known for its role in the development of nuclear weapons, but its sweeping desert landscapes are also well-worth exploring. Nearby, you can take a hike in the Bandelier National Monument, a 33,677-acre park. To explore the area’s past, visitors can explore the Alcove House, which is a cultural snapshot of the early Puebloans. The main loop trail also features a cave where visitors can enter and exit via wooden ladders.
The town is also home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory, which is one of three pivotal locations in the Manhattan Project. The project was an intense, top-secret World War II undertaking that produced the first atomic bomb. Visitors will also find numerous national park sites here, including the Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. This makes Los Alamos a great place to visit if you’re interested in science or history.
If you have kids, you’ll want to visit the Los Alamos Nature Center. The museum offers an observation room for wildlife and an interactive 3D topography map. Kids can also watch bird and chipmunk shows. If you’re looking for something for yourself, you can also find plenty of local shops. CB Fox is one of the local department stores. If you’re looking for a souvenir, you can even pick up a few souvenirs at the local CB Fox store.
The town is home to one of the highest per capita incomes in New Mexico. The town was first established as a company town, where the employees of the Los Alamos National Laboratory could live and work. Nowadays, it’s the top nuclear research facility in the world, employing over 10,000 people full time. So, if you’re a scientist who likes the idea of working in an exciting environment, Los Alamos is definitely for you.
If you’re interested in history, you can visit the Taos Pueblo. The main part of this Indian community was built around 1000 A.D., and it still looks like it did when Spanish explorers arrived in 1540. The two houses, North house and South house, are the oldest continuously inhabited buildings in the United States. This historical site is located a few hours south of Albuquerque.