People of the Manhattan Project

Several men and women seated at outdoor desks with military personnel looking on.
Workers sign up at Oak Ridge in 1944.

US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY/ED WESTCOTT

 

History & Culture

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. 

 
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African Americans

Learn about African Americans who played an integral role in the Manhattan Project.

A black and white photo of destroyed buildings as two people walk along the road.
Atomic Bomb Survivors

Learn about the people impacted by the atomic bombings of Japan.

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Downwinders

Learn about people who lived near nuclear test and production sites.

 
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Hispanics

Learn about the Hispanics that were impacted by the creation of the Manhattan Project.

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Leaders

Meet the civilian, political, and military leaders who influenced the trajectory of the Manhattan Project.

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Scientists & Engineers

Learn about the scientists and engineers who launched the atomic age.

 
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Tribal Nations

Learn about the Tribal nations that have connections to Hanford, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge.

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Women

Learn about the women who played a key role in the Manhattan Project.

A black and white image of a woman in goggles and gloves welding.
Workers

Learn about workers from all different backgrounds who formed the backbone of the Manhattan Project.

 
 

People by Park Location

 
A black and white photo of three workers in front of smoke stacks.
Hanford

Meet the people of Hanford from those who pre-date the Manhattan Project to those who became intertwined with its legacies.

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Los Alamos

Discover the people of Los Alamos from civilians to the military to the locals who were drawn into the orbit of the Manhattan Project.

A black and white photo of three women in nurse's uniforms.
Oak Ridge

Learn about the people of Oak Ridge from the Calutron girls to those who helped build a secret city seemingly overnight.

 

Last updated: April 17, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

National Park Service, Manhattan Project National Historical Park
c/o NPS Intermountain Regional Office
One Denver Federal Center, Building 50
Denver, CO 80225-0287

Phone:

Hanford: 509.376.1647
Los Alamos: 505.661.6277
Oak Ridge: 865.482.1942

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