US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY/ED WESTCOTT
More than 500,000 people contributed to the Manhattan Project including workers, scientists, engineers, and political leaders. The Manhattan Project affected hundreds of thousands more through the world’s first nuclear detonation and the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945. Since then, Manhattan Project legacies have unfolded to produce beneficial applications for people while obligating future generations to address challenges such as nuclear waste cleanup and long-term storage. Explore the Manhattan Project through the lens of the people who lived through it as well as the successive generations who are forging ahead in a world that the Manhattan Project forever changed.
Explore people through the categories below or by the three park sites. 
African AmericansLearn about African Americans who played an integral role in the Manhattan Project. 
Atomic Bomb SurvivorsLearn about the people impacted by the atomic bombings of Japan. 
DownwindersLearn about people who lived near nuclear test and production sites. 
HispanicsLearn about the Hispanics that were impacted by the creation of the Manhattan Project. 
LeadersMeet the civilian, political, and military leaders who influenced the trajectory of the Manhattan Project. 
Scientists & EngineersLearn about the scientists and engineers who launched the atomic age. 
Tribal NationsLearn about the Tribal nations that have connections to Hanford, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge. 
WomenLearn about the women who played a key role in the Manhattan Project. 
WorkersLearn about workers from all different backgrounds who formed the backbone of the Manhattan Project. 
HanfordMeet the people of Hanford from those who pre-date the Manhattan Project to those who became intertwined with its legacies. 
Los AlamosDiscover the people of Los Alamos from civilians to the military to the locals who were drawn into the orbit of the Manhattan Project. 
Oak RidgeLearn about the people of Oak Ridge from the Calutron girls to those who helped build a secret city seemingly overnight. |
Last updated: April 14, 2023