B Reactor History Room: Hard Decisions

The Hard Decisions exhibit panel in the History Room.

See exhibit panel for specific image credits.

Main Text
At the bottom of the poster, text reads: “The Manhattan Project launched the nuclear age and paved the way for future generations to live in a nuclear world. The reactor building where you are standing opened the door to this new age by industrializing the science that unleashed the energy held within the atom and made large-scale production of plutonium possible.

“The decision to use the atomic weapon is one of the most consequential decisions of the 20th century. Imagine the outcomes and consequences that President Truman reflected on when he debated the decision to us atomic bombs on Japan.

“What do you consider when you make hard decisions? Do you rely mainly on the facts, your feelings, or a combination of the two? Use the notepaper below to write or draw your response to this question. If you would like to share your answer, place it in the cubby below. Notice: For your privacy, if you share any personal information in your response, please keep it general. For example, just your first name and where you live.”

Exhibit Panel Description
A poster with a black and white photograph of President Truman standing at a podium giving a speech to a group of citizens.

Visit This Exhibit Panel
In-person visitation of the B Reactor is only authorized on guided tours offered by the Department of Energy.