Jon Konrath
8 places
Good, but it's a Disney version of history — 2 years ago
Worth visiting!
I went in April of 1999 during a cross-country moving trip. Be forewarned that they only open two days a year, and that there are millions of security restrictions you need to worry about, so do your research and find their web site.
The test site is in the middle of an active missile range, and you have to drive a few miles on crap roads to reach it. Once you get there, you’ll find the entire site has been bulldozed and fenced off. There are no giant craters, and you won’t find any loose trinitite or other souveniers you can carry home. To most people, the whole thing would seem incredibly boring.
BUT, if you are a history buff, if you’ve read the Richard Rhodes books, or if you understand the significance of the whole thing, it’s a pretty incredible site to behold. Unfortunately, you’ll have to deal with crowds and camcorders and strollers to appreciate it.
If you’re really interested, there is an underground test site that was used for the Gnome test, that’s a couple of hours away, and it much more untouched. It’s also impossible to find without a GPS and a car that handles dirt roads, but it’s worth the trip. If you’re interested, drop me a comment and I can post more details about it.
