National Atomic Museum (U.S.)

Established in 1969 in New Mexico, this museum later became the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, though many people still know it by its earlier name, the National Atomic Museum. It is a Smithsonian Affiliate and the only museum in its field to be chartered by Congress, reflecting its national role in preserving and explaining nuclear history.

Its mission is to serve as America’s resource for nuclear history and science. The museum presents the story of the Atomic Age in a broad way, covering early scientific discoveries, the Manhattan Project, the Cold War, and modern applications in medicine, energy, and technology.

Today, the museum operates as an independent nonprofit in the Albuquerque area. Through permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programs, and outdoor displays in Heritage Park, it offers a place to explore both the power of nuclear science and the people, events, and debates that shaped it.