In a time of global turbulence, a visit to the site where the so-called Atomic Age was born is not just “movie tourism”. People are desperate for a coherent narrative of what’s going on and what’s the role of the US.
On Saturday, October 22nd, a substantial number of visitors flocked to the historic Trinity Site in southern New Mexico, where the world’s first atomic bomb was detonated. This event coincided with heightened interest due to the release of Christopher Nolan’s film, “Oppenheimer”. The film included this first detonation, in a visually and acoustically stunning scene described here:
The Trinity Site, typically off-limits due to its proximity to missile impact zones, only opens to the public twice a year, in April and October. While the specific turnout figures were not immediately available, a Facebook post from White Sands Missile Range indicated that vehicles queued for over two miles before tours began. It’s anticipated that no more than 5,000 visitors will be accommodated between opening at 8 a.m. and closure at 2 p.m. However, visitors were cautioned about long entry wait times of up to two hours and urged to come prepared, as the site is located in a remote area with no cell service, limited Wi-Fi, and no restroom facilities.
