Manhattan Project National Historical Park


Los Alamos is one of three separate sites within this national historical park, established in 2015. Each site spotlights a different aspect of the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Los Alamos was the home of Project Y, where scientists developed the science leading to the creation of the bomb. At the visitor center you can learn more about the 'secret city' born here in 1943. Maps pinpointing key sights downtown and across the mesa are also available.

The other two national park sites are in Oak Ridge, TN and Hanford, WA.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Art Center at Fuller Lodge

0.07 MILES

Built in 1928 to serve as the dining hall for the local boys' school, Fuller Lodge, alongside the historical museum, was purchased by the US government…

2. Los Alamos Historical Museum

0.1 MILES

Several historic sites along Bathtub Row comprise this engaging museum, which spotlights the most notable inhabitants of the mesa. Pay admission and pick…

3. Bradbury Science Museum

0.22 MILES

You can't actually visit the Los Alamos National Laboratory, where the first atomic bomb was conceived, but the Bradbury Science Museum has compelling…

4. Tsankawi Ruins

4.61 MILES

On the way to the main canyon you'll pass these little-visited ruins, located near the intersection of Hwy 502 and Hwy 4. If you're out for a full day and…

5. Alcove House

6.42 MILES

Perched 450ft above the canyon floor, this lofty ceremonial cave is reached by climbing four ladders. At the top you'll find a reconstructed kiva. There's…

6. Bandelier National Monument

7.25 MILES

Bandelier's 1.2-mile Main Loop Trail in Frijoles Canyon offers an excellent introduction to the main ruins and history of the park. The trail first passes…

7. San Ildefonso Pueblo

10.33 MILES

Eight miles west of Pojoaque along Hwy 502, this ancient pueblo traces its origins back to Bandelier and Mesa Verde. It’s best known now as the birthplace…

8. Valles Caldera National Preserve

10.76 MILES

Ever wondered what the crater of a dormant supervolcano looks like 1.25 million years after it first blows? At Valles Caldera, the prehistoric explosion…