Atomic Museum

After 25 years of research, historian and founding Atomic Museum member Robert Friedrichs identified Miss Atomic Bomb as Anna Lee Mahoney of the Bronx, New York. Captured in 1957 during Operation Plumbbob, the iconic photo symbolized Cold War culture. atomicmuseum.vegas

Conducted July 17, 1962, Little Feller I was the last atmospheric test at the Nevada Test Site. Part of Operation Sunbeam, it tested the Davy Crockett—a tactical nuke with a 51-lb W54 warhead, one of the smallest ever made. A key Cold War milestone.

An airman films Shot HOOD, a 74-kiloton detonation during Operation Plumbbob at the Nevada Test Site in 1957. It remains the largest atmospheric nuclear test conducted in the continental U.S..

In the 1950s, Las Vegas locals and tourists gathered on Fremont Street at dawn, eyes on the horizon—waiting for the desert sky to light up from atomic tests just 65 miles away. Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive

What does it take to study a nuclear crater? A nine-ton drill rig and a mission to go 320 feet underground. Used at Sedan Crater in 1963, this equipment supported vital research at the Nevada Test Site as part of efforts to understand—and harness—nuclear power for engineering.

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Taken just 28 hours after the Trinity explosion, this photo captures ground zero in haunting detail. The circular mark in the bottom right shows the site of the 100-ton test conducted on May 7, 1945 — a crucial precursor to the first atomic detonation.

80 years ago, the first nuclear weapon was tested in the New Mexico desert — a moment that changed history forever. For tickets and more information, visit atomicmuseum.vegas

In 1957, Don English captured the Priscilla Test’s atomic mushroom cloud above Fremont Street from a drugstore rooftop. The iconic photo framed the blast between Vegas Vic and the Pioneer Club, winning LIFE’s “Picture of the Week.” Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau, LVCVA Archive.

The future that never was. On display in our Atomic Odyssey exhibit: the Ford Nucleon—a 1950s concept car designed to run on a tiny nuclear reactor. It never made production but perfectly captured the Atomic Age’s vision of limitless energy and bold innovation.

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Slice of history 🍰💥 In this 1946 photo, Vice Adm. W.H.P. Blandy, his wife, and Rear Adm. George M. Lowry celebrate Operation Crossroads—the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll—by cutting a mushroom cloud–shaped angel food cake.

Did you know UNLV students and faculty get FREE admission to the Atomic Museum every Wednesday now through August 27, 2025? Bring a guest and explore decades of atomic history, groundbreaking tech, and our newest exhibit, Atomic Odyssey. atomicmuseum.vegas for more

A portion of the Alamogordo Bombing Range was chosen for the world’s first nuclear test—the Trinity Test. The quiet McDonald Ranch house became the assembly site for the atomic device. All temporary buildings were removed shortly after the test.

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James Stanford’s Spectre Fission serves as a striking finale to Atomic Odyssey, featuring four lenticular works that blend historic nuclear test imagery with modern digital art—rooted in his childhood memories of Vegas tests and his time as a technical illustrator.

The DAKOTA barge is towed into position for the 1956 Redwing Dakota nuclear test. With a 1.1 megaton yield, it prototyped the XW-28C warhead—one of the most widely deployed in the U.S. stockpile from 1958 to 1990.

The mystery is over. 💥 Miss Atomic Bomb finally has a name: Anna Lee Mahoney, a Sands Hotel showgirl from the Bronx. In partnership with the LVCVA Archive, we proudly present: Miss Atomic Bomb: Icon of the Atomic Age. Now open! 🎟 atomicmuseum.vegas 📸 Chris Wessling

On June 24, 1957, the “Priscilla” nuclear test from Operation Plumbbob was visible from rooftops along Fremont Street. Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau Collection, LVCVA Archive. #LVCVAarchive #LVNB #LVCVA #visitlasvegas

On July 14, 1962, the 1.65-kiloton “Small Boy” test took place at the Nevada Test Site during Operation Sunbeam (Dominic II). One of four tests in the series, it evaluated tactical nuclear warheads for potential battlefield use.

Project Rover, led by Los Alamos, aimed to develop nuclear rocket engines during the Cold War. A major milestone was the powerful Phoebus-2A reactor. On display now at the Atomic Museum is the Phoebus Reactor—a remarkable step toward nuclear science.