Johnston Atoll.
(Photo Courtesy of Robert Friedrichs)
ATOMIC MUSEUM TO HOST “STORIES FROM THE ATOMIC AGE: AN ABBREVIATED HISTORY OF JOHNSTON ATOLL,” THURSDAY, MARCH 28
On Thursday, March 28, the Atomic Museum invites guests to “Stories from the Atomic Age: An Abbreviated History of Johnston Atoll.” Historian and founding member of the Atomic Museum Robert Friedrichs will share the strange and true story of Johnston Atoll – a small uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that was developed into a naval defensive sea area and airspace reservation during World War II and a hub for nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s.
Johnston Atoll is commonly associated with substantial nuclear tests such as Starfish Prime, a 1.4-megaton device detonated at an extremely high altitude with effects reaching outer space, and Bluegill Prime, a misfire set to self-destruct on its own launchpad. The atoll was later used in bioweapon testing and chemical weapon storage for toxins such as Agent Orange before undergoing a decades-long contamination cleanup process, including the eradication of millions of invasive crazy ants. Today, it is a national wildlife refuge home to dozens of species of seabirds and a sanctuary for surrounding marine life.
“Johnston Atoll not only plays a critical role in nuclear testing history but also offers such bizarre stories that it sounds like something out of science fiction film,” said Rob McCoy, chief executive officer, Atomic Museum. “During this riveting discussion, guests will learn about this tiny yet extremely pertinent island as well as the challenges associated with managing areas formerly used for nuclear testing.”
The event will take place at 1 p.m. inside the Rogers Auditorium at the Atomic Museum. Admission is complimentary for museum members or with museum admission. Students and faculty will also receive complimentary event entry with a valid I.D. (museum admission not included). Space is limited and seating will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information, click here.
ABOUT THE ATOMIC MUSEUM
The Atomic Museum is operated and maintained by its parent company, the Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation (NTSHF), an IRS 501(c)3 charitable, non-profit organization chartered in Nevada. The Atomic Museum is one of 37 museums designated as an Affiliate Partner of the Smithsonian Institution and is a repository for one of the most comprehensive collections of nuclear history in the world. Covering nuclear history beginning with the first test at the Nevada Test Site on January 27, 1951, the Atomic Museum’s exhibitions and programming also address current affairs related to the nuclear industry. For more information, go to atomicmuseum.vegas and follow on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter) and TikTok.