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Atomic Name Instantly Vaporized

April 8, 2009

It’s official: the National Atomic Museum has moved and changed its name to the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History.

This is actually a homecoming of sorts for the museum, which began as the Sandia Base Weapons Museum at Kirtland Air Force Base on the outskirts of Albuquerque, New Mexico. After September 11, 2001, the base became off-limits and the museum moved into downtown Albuquerque, where its outdoor nuclear missile caused some consternation within the artsy neighborhood. Now the museum has moved back to Kirtland — but to a new, 12-acre compound, at the very edge of the base. This means that everyone can visit, and that the museum once again has room to display over-sized mementos like its B-52 bomber, its atomic torpedo, and its atomic cannon.

The museum’s name change conveys its attempt to branch into areas beyond bombs (The same thing happened in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, when the American Museum of Atomic Energy became the American Museum of Science and Energy). We’re sad to see the old name go, but we note with some satisfaction that the name emblazoned above the museum entrance reads The National Museum of NUCLEAR Science and History, leaving no doubt that this is still a fission-fueled attraction.

Sections: Attraction News 4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Atomic Name Instantly Vaporized”

1. Butterflie927 Says:
   April 26th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

   I was in New Mexico recently and saw a statue/sculpture I would like to know more about. We were pressed for time and could not stop and investigate. It is silvery by day and displays many different colored lights at night. There are solar panels next to it. My husband says it looks like a flower. I think it looks like someones idea of what a meteor might look like hitting the earth. I’d like to know what it is.

2. Bob Knott Says:
   April 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am

   I need more information, Was it in Albuquerque, Santa Fe Las Cruces Etc. ?

3. Joann Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 4:40 pm

   Sounds like the Yucca sculpture just east of Albuquerque off of I-40. I haven’t seen it at night, but it does have solar panels, and I suppose if you were not used to Yuccas, you might think it was a meteor hitting earth. It is part of the Albuquerque Public Art Program, at least one of which is listed here (Chevy on a Stick)
   http://www.artscrawlabq.org/html/albuquerque_public_art_program.html

4. William Says:
   July 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm

   I think this is probably the Yucca sculpture along I-40 just east of Albuquerque on the north side of the highway. At night it’s lit up by pastel colored lights that change over time. I’ve never been up close to it but it is very shiny, probably a chrome finish.

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