Record-Setting Attendance at New Mexico’s Trinity Site Spurred by ‘Oppenheimer’ Movie Hype

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This past Saturday, crowds thronged the Trinity Site in southern New Mexico, the location where the first atomic bomb was detonated. Officials suggest that this could be an unprecedented level of attendance, stimulated in part by the widespread publicity for Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed film, “Oppenheimer.”

The Trinity Site, officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark, is generally off-limits to the public due to its location near the impact areas for missiles launched at the White Sands Missile Range. However, the site becomes accessible to the public twice a year, in the months of April and October. Although exact attendance figures for this weekend were not available as of midnight Saturday, a social media update from the missile range reported a line of vehicles extending over two miles in anticipation of the day’s tours.

Officials from White Sands took to online platforms to caution potential visitors that entry wait times might extend up to two hours. The expectation is that no more than 5,000 people will be able to visit the site during the six-hour window from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Further advisories urged visitors to arrive well-prepared as the Trinity Site is situated in a remote area with limited Wi-Fi, absent cell service, and no restroom facilities.

The film “Oppenheimer,” which dramatizes the life and work of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the secretive Manhattan Project during World War II, enjoyed blockbuster status at the summer box office. The Manhattan Project was chiefly operational in a clandestine city in Los Alamos during the 1940s and conducted tests at the Trinity Site, located some 200 miles away.

An unexpected element contributing to the film’s success has been the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, where audiences watched “Oppenheimer” back-to-back with the “Barbie” movie. While the story of the atomic bomb has been integrated into popular culture, it serves as a grim historical chapter for those who resided downwind of the Trinity Site. Advocacy group, the Tularosa Basin Downwinders, intends to stage protests outside the site to highlight historical elements they claim the film neglected to cover.

The group contends that local populations were never alerted by the U.S. government about the atomic testing. The aftermath resulted in the contamination of soil and water by radioactive ash, leading to a rise in rates of infant mortality, cancer, and other health conditions. Ongoing issues continue to affect younger generations, say the advocates.

In addition to other initiatives, the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium has collaborated with organizations such as the Union of Concerned Scientists to raise awareness about the Manhattan Project’s adverse impacts. A new documentary, “First We Bombed New Mexico,” by filmmaker Lois Lipman premiered on Friday at the Santa Fe International Film Festival.

In contrast, the town of Los Alamos, situated more than 200 miles north of the Tularosa Basin, has welcomed the attention generated by “Oppenheimer.” Approximately 200 local residents, many of whom are employees of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, participated as extras in the film. Additionally, the town celebrated an Oppenheimer Festival in the month of July.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Trinity Site Attendance

More about Trinity Site Attendance

• Trinity Site Official Page
• Oppenheimer Movie IMDb
• Christopher Nolan’s Filmography
• White Sands Missile Range
• National Historic Landmarks Program
• Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium
• Union of Concerned Scientists
• Santa Fe International Film Festival
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Manhattan Project History
• Health Impacts of Atomic Testing