Museum of Nuclear Science and History

When in Albuquerque, NM if you are in the neighborhood of the Eubank gate you will notice the Museum of Nuclear Science and History.  For me it was hard to miss, the word ‘Nuclear” is an attention getter for me!  The museum is well laid out and everything is explained in simple to understand language.  There are also plenty of docents available and eager to help. What I found really interesting is that the Museum (formerly named National Atomic Museum) is a national repository of nuclear science information. "The mission of the National Atomic Museum is to serve as America's resource for nuclear history and science. The Museum presents exhibits and quality educational programs that convey the diversity of individuals and events that shape the historical and technical context of the nuclear age."  I found that most of the displays deal with the Manhattan Project and nuclear weapons.  A little disappointing for me since I am a product of the Admiral Rickover years with the naval nuclear propulsion program.  There was a little exhibit for this material and they do have the full sail from the James K. Polk in the courtyard.
In 1969, the Museum was on the grounds of Kirtland Air Force Base in an old 90mm anti-aircraft gun repair facility, and named "Sandia Atomic Museum". It was the result of a six-year effort to establish a museum to tell the story of the base and the development of nuclear weapons, and was staffed by United States Air Force (USAF) personnel with help from Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). In 1973, the Museum name changed to "National Atomic Museum", but it did not yet have a national charter. In 1985, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) became responsible for the Museum, and the staff became DOE employees. In 1991 the Museum received its charter as a national museum and its mission expanded to include aspects of nuclear science and history beyond the manufacturing of nuclear weapons. The Museum also became affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. In 1992 the National Atomic Museum Foundation (NAMF) was created to act as a supporting organization for the Museum and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. DOE transferred Museum operation to SNL in 1995, and Museum staff became SNL employees.
After the terror attacks in September 2001, increased security restricted public access to the Museum's on-base site and forced relocation to a former REI store in Old Town Albuquerque's museum district. In 2005, SNL transferred operational responsibility to NAMF. SNL employees working as museum staff moved to other positions within Sandia. The Museum hired new staff who became employees of NAMF.
When the Museum relocated to Albuquerque's museum district, the site had inadequate space for outdoor exhibits. In January 2005, NAMF asked DOE/NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration) for 12 acres of land at the intersection of Eubank and Southern Boulevards in southeast Albuquerque for construction of a new museum. The new Museum opened on April 4, 2009 in its new location under the new name National Museum of Nuclear Science & History.

Exhibits at the museum include:

 Pioneers of the Atom— An interactive display that introduces the individuals who questioned and defined the matter which makes up the universe. This display includes an interactive kiosk to trace the study of the atom.

World War II—A display that teaches the history leading up to the creation and use of the atomic bomb and the countries that became involved.

Secrets, Lies & Atomic Spies— You experience the world of espionage, as secrets and spies infiltrated New Mexico during WWII and the Cold War.

The Decision to Drop— The dawn of the Atomic Age began with the design and testing of the world’s first atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project. You get a view of the daily lives of the scientists who lived at Los Alamos and journey with them to the Trinity site where the first explosion occurred in 1945.  The Decision to Drop exhibit works very hard to provide an objective view of the subject.  It includes a contentious Edward Teller statement advocating a high-altitude night-time demonstration detonation over Tokyo to precipitate Japanese surrender, text of statements by Japanese politicians and military leaders, a copy of the petition protesting use without warning submitted by nuclear physicist Leó Szilárd, and photographs from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The display also features video footage of the reminiscences of Col. Paul Tibbets (pilot of the Enola Gay), and coverage of the emotion the surrender of Japan produced in the United States.

Cold War— An examination of the strategic conflict between the United States and the USSR in the second half of the 20th Century, through US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands and at the Nevada Test Site, Soviet nuclear development, the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, and leading to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. This also includes the Palomares exhibition, an extensive accounting of the January 17, 1966 mid-air collision between two USAF aircraft (a B-52 bomber and a KC-135 tanker) over Palomares, Almería resulting in radioactive contamination following the accidental dropping of four hydrogen bombs.

Heritage Park—An outdoor exhibit is complete with planes, rockets, missiles, cannons, and a nuclear submarine sail.

Nuclear Medicine— A display of early and modern medical equipment using principles of nuclear physics.

Little Al's Lab— An area presided over by an animatronic version of Albert Einstein, provides hands-on, family-friendly science activities for children.

Energy Encounter — A series of displays focusing on civilian use of nuclear power

Radiation 101— A display of everyday items and activities that expose people to ionizing radiation.

Atomic Pop Culture— Every visitor will be entertained while viewing how American popular culture reflected the dawning of the Atomic Age. This includes vintage movie memorabilia, comic books, accessories and more.

Nuclear Waste Transportation— The TruPact II container is on display in this exhibit - a type of transportation container used by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to transport transuranic waste.

Uranium Cycle— An exhibit where you learn about the steps in the process required to change uranium into a usable form for nuclear power plants or weapons as well as options for disposal and recycling.

Nano—An interactive exhibition where you can imagine and discover a world you can’t see, and learn about big ideas that come from the small world of nanoscience.

Like I said this museum will entertain everyone – from the Big Bang Theory level science fan to those studying nuclear science.  All the exhibits are plain English and there is more information available for those versed in the trade!  I was very impressed with Decision to Drop exhibit since it really seemed to cover how complicated the decision was along with the controversy that came along with the decision process.  Did I mention they have a submarine sail – only three numbers off from my last boat!  How’s that for old! The cost is $12 for adults with a discount (of varying degree) for just about anything you can think of! I would plan a half-day, more if the weather is nice and someone in your party likes planes or missiles as the outdoor displays will keep them occupied.

Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art

Roswell, NM is a unique city, not just for its ability to rebound from a devastating blow to its economy but for its ability to really engage two different types of tourist.  Roswell suffered a major economic setback when the Air Force closed Walker Air Force Base, at the time the largest Strategic Air Command Base.  After time Roswell grasped the UFO fascination and has become the UFO capital even hosting an annual convention.  But Roswell is also an Art Mecca, having not one but two art museums The Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art opened its doors in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1994 to showcase works of art produced by former fellows of the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program. Today, more than 400 diverse works of art enliven its nine galleries and 22,000 square feet of exhibition space.  Now if you are like me you automatically associate “contemporary art” with abstract art.  For me abstract art falls into my second (art I don’t like) category. So I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the museum to find a painting that I actually thought was a photograph!  

 The detail on this painting was amazing!  What I liked about this museum is that it has a very diverse collection of photographs, paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture.  For instance someone has finally found a useful purpose for a golf bag!!!  

The museum provides a snapshot of the evolving issues in art since the 1967 inception of the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program. Works range from figurative to non-objective and showcase the diversity of the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program. Few other museums provide a similar focus on contemporary visual art with such an eclectic range of form and content. The Anderson Museum is free but welcomes donations.  Please be generous and maybe we can keep art that falls into my third category (How the hell can they call that art!) out of this place!

Robert Goddard Planetarium

Is it just me, or do all campers like to sit around the campfire, look up and try to find Polaris – the North Star – and then see how many planets and constellations we can find?  I’ve gone so far as load the Skyview app on my phone.  Lori has also turned into quite the amateur astronomer. So when we find a planetarium, especially one that is community centered and inexpensive we try to take in a show or two.  While we were in Roswell, NM we noticed that there was a planetarium in the downtown area.  The museum is actually part of the Roswell Museum and Art Center. The Robert H. Goddard Planetarium was built through an initiative shared by the museum and the Roswell Independent School District in 1968. Once considered the largest planetarium in New Mexico, it is capable of reproducing the night sky as seen from any point on earth. The multimedia laboratory features an Astronomy Resource Center and hosts the Roswell Astronomy Club "Star Parties". The planetarium continues its partnership with the museum and school district through educational and public programming – including such activities as Space Camp, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope's informal science education resource "ViewSpace," and other family science events and activities.

The Planetarium is home to a state-of-the-art, full-dome digital theater system with Digistar 6 programming. This immersive experience brings the captivating story of our cosmic origins to life like never before. Shows will be presented on a seasonally rotating schedule so check ahead and be sure to attend one when you are in the area.  Shows include a full-dome film accompanied by a star presentation and last approximately 40 minutes. Cost is around $5. The show we attended dealt with the life cycle of the universe – how it was created and how science predicts it will end.  While some of the content was over my head and clearly designed to keep the more astronomically minded engaged, the remained was entertaining and informative. 

Roswell museum and art center

As we travel we find ourselves taking in a lot of museums.  I may actually start becoming cultured (sounds like yogurt!).  What I’m finding is that my horizons are broadening.  I now have three classifications for art – “art I like”, “art I don’t like”, and “how the hell did this get classified as ‘art’!”.  I’m finding that the small, city galleries tend to have the first two categories and and the bigger city galleries and the college galleries sprinkle in some of the third category.  When you are in Roswell, NM you won’t have to worry about anything being in the third category.   The Roswell Museum and Art Center, located in the downtown area, was founded in 1935 through an agreement between the City of Roswell, Works Progress Administration (WPA), Federal Art Project (FAP), Chaves County Archaeological and Historical Society, and the Roswell Friends of Art. The Museum opened in 1937, deriving its initial support from the WPA as part of a Depression era project to promote public art centers nationwide. Today, the Roswell Museum and Art Center is among a handful of these Federal Art Centers that remain in operation. In its proposed plan, the WPA established that “the root of the community art center idea is participation by the entire community in all forms of art experience…” The stated purpose of the Museum was “to serve the art needs of Roswell [through] continuously changing exhibitions in the fine and practical arts, lectures and gallery talks [music programs and an art school where classes were offered free to the public]. From the outset, the Roswell Museum and Art Center established itself as a cultural and educational locus for the community. When the WPA restructured in 1941, the City of Roswell assumed control of the Museum and a donor program brought in works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, Stuart Davis, John Marin, and others.  
 Esther Goddard also gifted the museum with one of its most significant historical collections: Dr. Robert H. Goddard's material research on liquid-fuel rockets. Goddard's rocket tower now stands in the museum's courtyard. In the Robert H. Goddard exhibit, visitors may see a moon rock donated by Harrison Schmitt from the Apollo 17 Mission. In 1967, the Roswell Artist-in-Residence program was established through the support of local artist and philanthropist Donald B. Anderson. The first Artist-in-Residence was American painter and Taos resident, Howard Cook. In the 1990s, the museum received a collection of western art and historical artifacts donated by Rogers and Mary Ellen Aston. Since its initial emergence, the Roswell Museum and Art Center has grown into a 50,000 square foot facility that includes twelve galleries dedicated to the exhibition of art and history.

As I become more pinky-in-the-air sophisticated I am noticing that each museum seems to have at least onbe display that really catches my attention.  The Roswell Art Center had two.  The first was some late 1930s hand crafted furniture.  The workmanship was just incredible.

The second was an extensive firearms collection. Hey, it's all art!!! 

The museum operates the Patricia Lubben Bassett Art Education Center, which opened in 1998 as a learning facility in the state of New Mexico. The facility supports a museum-school-community creative exchange that provides arts education opportunities for all ages. The Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is southern New Mexico’s preeminent museum, lauded for the quality of its exhibitions, programs, and collections.

While I am not sure of your taste in art, The Roswell Museum and Art Center and mostly art that I liked.  The museum is free but accepts (and is worthy of your) donations.