NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM ANNOUNCES MAY PROGRAMS, PROMOTIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Exterior Image of National Atomic Testing Museum.
(Photo Courtesy of National Atomic Testing Museum)

NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM ANNOUNCES MAY PROGRAMS, PROMOTIONS

LAS VEGAS (May 2022) – The National Atomic Testing Museum (NATM) announces its roster of public programs and promotions for May.

All museum events require registration. For more information on the museum’s programs and to register, visit www.nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/museum-events/. 

May The Science Be With You

Date: Wednesday, May 4

Time: 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Inside the National Atomic Testing Museum.

Cost: Free for attendees. To RSVP, click here.

Description: In partnership with the Desert Research Institute, the museum welcomes the community to this free family-friendly event featuring scientific demonstrations, food trucks, art projects and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet “BattleBots” robotic TV star “Jackpot” and the Las Vegas team builders and drivers. The museum staff will also show attendees how Van de Graaff generators and Tesla coils operate. “Star Wars” fans can participate in a lightsaber training with entertainers while Lucasfilm licensed artist Spencer Brinkerhoff III will also lead an interactive Star Wars art workshop.

Community Outreach Events

With a strong commitment to the Las Vegas community, the museum regularly participates in community outreach events. Outreach not only includes educational lessons about the history of nuclear testing but also topics related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and more. In May, NATM will attend the following outreach events:

• Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival’s Giant Expo on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff and volunteers from the museum will show a Van de Graaff generator, Tesla coil and Geiger counter to attendees. The museum will use the devices to demonstrate various physics principles relating to electrical charge and explain how scientists detect radiation.
• Career week at Red Rock Elementary School on Wednesday, May 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Director of education Joseph Kent will speak with students about museum careers as well as the importance of education.
• Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference presentation on Tuesday, May 17 from 12:45 to 2:30 p.m. Director of Education Joseph Kent will speak about the history of the United States’ nuclear weapons testing program, specifically the role of the Nevada Test Site. He will also provide details about the museum and the mission of the Nevada National Security Site.

Guided Tours

To preserve and foster public accessibility to the history associated with the Nevada Test Site and the nation’s nuclear weapons program, NATM regularly hosts field trips for the Clark County School District and other collegiate institutions. In May, NATM will host the following guided tours:

• CSN’s TRIO Student Support Services on Friday, May 6 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Palo Verde High School’s JROTC on Tuesday, May 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Sandia National Laboratories Weapons Intern Program on Wednesday, May 25 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Historical Dates in May

• Non-proliferation Treaty Renewed in 1995: With the objective to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament, the non-proliferation treaty was originally implemented in 1970. On May 11, 1995, the treaty was extended indefinitely.
• Operation Wigwam: The test of the Mark 90 “Betty” nuclear bomb was conducted about 500 miles southwest of San Diego, California, on May 14, 1955. The purpose of Operation Wigwam was to determine the vulnerability of submarines to deeply detonated nuclear weapons and to evaluate the feasibility of using such weapons in a combat situation.
• “Miss Atomic Bomb” 65-year Anniversary: This atomic-inspired beauty contest and publicity stunt for Las Vegas began in May of 1952, a little over a year after atomic testing started in Nevada. The last and most famous beauty contest winner was Copa showgirl Lee A. Merlin from the Sands Hotel. She was crowned as “Miss Atomic Bomb” on May 24, 1957.
• Upshot-Knothole Grable, the United States’ First and Only Nuclear Artillery Test Shot: On May 25, 1953, the United States Army conducted a live artillery test shot at the Nevada Test Site. The test remains the only nuclear artillery shell ever actually fired in the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Test Program.
• Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty Signed 50 years ago: On May 26, 1972, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, known as SALT 1, was signed to limit the number of nuclear weapons the United States and the Soviet Union could possess in their arsenals.

Discounted Admission for Nevada Residents, Seniors, Students and Active Military

Cost: Various discounted tickets range from $18 to $20

Description: The National Atomic Testing Museum offers exclusive discounts for Nevada residents, seniors 62 years or older, students and active military. Tickets can be purchased in person or online by clicking here.

ABOUT NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM

The National Atomic Testing Museum (NATM) is operated and maintained by its parent company, the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation (NTSHF), an IRS 501(c)3 charitable, non-profit organization chartered in Nevada. NATM is one of 37 museums designated as an Affiliate Partner of the Smithsonian Institution and is a repository for one of the most comprehensive collections of nuclear history in the world. Covering nuclear history beginning with the first test at the Nevada Test Site on January 27, 1951, NATM’s exhibitions and programming also address current affairs related to the nuclear industry.  For more information, go to www.nationalatomictestingmuseum.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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(702) 569-0616, (702) 249-2977

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