Workers of the Manhattan Project

Several African American men with shovels in a long hallway.
Several workers pour concrete at K-25 in Oak Ridge, 1945.

US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY/ED WESTCOTT

 
The Manhattan Project went from an idea to a reality in just a few short years because of the tens of thousands of workers who contributed to the top-secret project. Many worked at the project's three main centers of operation in Hanford, Los Alamos, and Oak Ridge. Others worked at the project's numerous smaller sites across the US. Most did not know the true purpose of their work. Although the majority of the workers were White males, the workforce included African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and women. But how was such a massive undertaking completed in such a short time and kept secret? Who were the people that built and operated these groundbreaking facilities and lived in the secret communities that seemingly sprung up overnight? Find out more about the Manhattan Project workforce below.
 

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    Last updated: April 4, 2023

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    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    Manhattan Project National Historical Park
    c/o NPS Intermountain Regional Office
    P.O. Box 25287

    Denver, CO 80225-0287

    Phone:

    Hanford: 509.376.1647
    Los Alamos: 505.661.6277
    Oak Ridge: 865.482.1942

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