Go Behind the Scenes & Behind the Fence to Explore Science

Published on June 24, 2025

Los Alamos, New Mexico—where discoveries are made—invites history and science lovers, as well as fans of the film Oppenheimer, to experience history firsthand. Famed as an integral location of the Manhattan Project that ended World War II, Los Alamos boasts a variety of attractions and events that allow travelers to learn about our nation’s history in tangible, immersive ways.

Kicking off in August, the New Mexico TopHAT Award-winning Oppenheimer Festival at SALA Event Center features 15 days of films, discussions, and events related to the Manhattan Project and the man behind it—J. Robert Oppenheimer. Running August 16–31, the third annual festival will feature the theme of Peace, Legacy, and Explore, promoting peace and ethical reflection on the impact and science of war. Throughout the festival, SALA will host films, Q & A sessions, lectures, and virtual reality experiences that highlight Los Alamos’ role in world history, the work and life of Oppenheimer, the impacts of nuclear weapons, the monumental cost of human progress, and the ongoing need for peace. Additionally, events will include an AR scavenger hunt, opera performances, a community art piece, and pop-up exhibits throughout town. Events will culminate with a 4 p.m. showing of Oppenheimer on Sunday, August 31. The festival is free and open to the public. Be sure to check the SALA website closer to the event for more details.

For those hoping to get a look “behind the fence” at the sites where Manhattan Project scientists worked, consider signing up for the free lottery for the “Behind the Fence” Manhattan Project National Historical Park Tour. The tours will take place October 14–16, 2025, taking a limited number of participants through sites normally closed off to the public, including:

Pond Cabin, where physicist Emilio Segre and his team worked.
The bunker where experiments were held to determine if the Trinity test would work.
Slotin Building, where a fatal accident helped to shape today’s safety culture at Los Alamos National Labs.
Accounts from historical experts.

Registration for the lottery is open through June 28, and tickets given are limited through the lottery system. Selected participants will be chosen on July 1, 2025. To register, visit https://www.lanl.gov/media/news/0610-mapr-tour.

For those visiting later in the fall, mark your calendars for November, when Manhattan Project National Historical Park will celebrate ten years as a National Park site.

“In Los Alamos, science is part of our culture, and we’re proud to showcase the groundbreaking scientific discoveries that not only put Los Alamos on the map, but continue to this day,” said Ellyn Felton, Marketing Specialist for Los Alamos County. “This summer and fall, we have a variety of events focusing on the importance of the Manhattan Project in our community, and we invite all to come out and learn firsthand—and even behind the fence—about the world-changing science that takes place in Los Alamos.”

For those visiting throughout the year, take advantage of local museums, including the Los Alamos History Museum and the Bradbury Science Museum, which offer interactive exhibits about Los Alamos and the Manhattan Project.

For more information and to plan your visit, go to visitlosalamos.org.