Los Alamos Lights for Peace

Luminarias line Ashley Pond in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

NPS

 

Reflection

• More Days of Peace & Remembrance
• Hanford Lights for Peace
• Oak Ridge Friendship Bell Ringing

In Los Alamos, scientists, engineers, and military officials worked together to develop the theoretical and experimental tests that created the first atomic weapons using enriched uranium from Oak Ridge and plutonium from Hanford. The uranium bomb utilized a gun method for creating a critical mass and nuclear explosion. In 1944, scientists determined that a gun-type bomb would not work for plutonium. They turned to the theoretical and extremely complex implosion method to develop the plutonium-fueled fat man bomb.

Uncertain the implosion method would work, officials tested this method at the Trinity Site in southern New Mexico on July 16, 1945. The Trinity test ushered in the nuclear age with the world's first human-caused nuclear explosion. This profound significant scientific achievement raised ethical and moral questions among scientists and citizens alike—questions that continue to this day.

Los Alamos Lights for Peace

On August 6 at 7:00 pm MDT, the park will host a Lights for Peace event at Ashley Pond in Los Alamos, NM. The program features display luminarias with messages of peace from the public along a path that participants are encouraged to walk for a quiet, contemplative experience.

Every July, the park posts a full schedule of events on the park's online calendar.

More Commemoration Events

For those who are unable to attend the August event in person, a virtual bell ringing is available from 6:00 am EDT on August 6 through 11:59 pm PDT on August 9. A virtual Lights for Peace is available year-round.

As part of the Days of Peace and Remembrance, the park solicits Messages of Peace from the public in advance of the August commemoration events.