Exhibits
The exhibits at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History provide an objective, accessible window into the past, present, and future of nuclear science. They cover everything from the very origins of atomic theory, the complexity of the political scenarios contributing to World War II, the height of the Cold War, to modern-day advances in nuclear medicine – and even begin to speculate about the future of this fascinating and exciting field. The Museum gives its visitors a memorable and vivid understanding of nuclear science and history.
Whether the exhibition is permanent or temporary, there is always something to see and learn at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History!
Can't visit in person? Explore our PastPerfect online archives
Dark Cube: Heisenberg’s Race for the Bomb
The "Dark Cube: Heisenberg's Race for the Bomb" exhibition focuses on a dense, two-inch charcoal-black cube made of pure uranium metal that Nazi scientists suspended with 663 other similar cubes during World War II in an effort to create the world’s first atomic bomb. This is one the museum's events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the ending of WWII, a Nuclear Heritage Series.
Heritage Park - Nine-Acre Outdoor Exhibit Area
Complete with planes, rockets, missiles, cannons and nuclear sub sail, this exhibit will attract plane buffs and historians alike.
Critical Assembly, the Secrets of Los Alamos 1944: An Installation by Jim Sanborn
A special exhibition where visitors will step back in time to a pivotal point in history, and experience pure science through pure art. Explore and study the recreations of the super secrets from the Manhattan Project's atomic bomb in this mesmerizing exhibit.
Pioneers of the Atom
Visitors will step back in time to meet the individuals who influenced the nuclear world.
Decision to Drop
It is said that the dawn of the Atomic Age began with the testing of the world’s first atomic bomb. This exhibit will show visitors just how much influence over the modern world this test created.
Little Albert’s Lab
The future belongs to the children of today. Little Albert’s Lab will help children of all ages grasp the concepts of physics, the basis of all sciences.
Atomic Culture/ Pop Culture
Every visitor will be entertained while viewing the cultural items surrounding the dawning of the Atomic Age!
Cold War
In this exhibit, visitors will learn how close we came to another war before the end of the Cold War.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki
While the atomic bomb brought the war to a close, the after-effects of the bomb were felt for years in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Uranium; Enriching Your Future
The exhibit features interactive exhibits helping the visitor discover the place nuclear power has in our energy hungry world.
Energy Encounter
Examine the options of green energy alternatives like solar and wind power along with the place nuclear power has in the world today.
Nuclear Waste Transportation
This exhibit features how radioactive waste is managed in a safe way.
Nuclear Medicine
See the history of nuclear medicine and how it contributed to the advancement of medical technology.
What’s Up With U
"What's Up With U(ranium)" is now on permanent display at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, engaging visitors of all ages while answering questions such as where does uranium come from, how does it move through the environment, how does it affect us and is it radioactive.
Virtual Exhibit
This exhibition, compiled from the collections of the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, aims to exemplify the ever-changing public attitudes towards atomic thought over the course of the 20th Century and first decade of the 21st Century through the reflective lens of advertising and packaging.