Rio Grande Historical Collections Photographs, 1885-1950s
Date
1945-09-11
Decade
1940s
Subject (LCSH)
Towers
United States. Army
Men
Soldiers
Deserts
Mountains
Historical context
The White Sands Proving Ground (WSPG) was established in July 9, 1945 and renamed White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in 1958. The world's first atomic bomb was detonated at Trinity Site, at the north end of WSPG, July 16, 1945. The military range served as a principal location for testing rocket technology following World War II, including V-2 rockets brought from Germany at the end of the war. WSMR is known as the birthplace of missile and space activity in the United States. The images in the collection depict WSMR views, V-2 rocket tests, Trinity Site, the old mining site of Estey City (located on the range), and personnel affiliated with operations at WSPG during the mid-1940s. The photographs were donated by the WSMR Public Affairs Office
Provenance
White Sands Missile Range, Public Affairs Office
Extent
Size original: 8 x 10 in.
Notes
Members of the press make their first visit to the Trinity Site, September 11, 1945, two months after the first atomic bomb test
The visit was led by Los Alamos director Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, and Major General Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project
Oppenheimer is in the center with the white hat and Groves is to his left
They are looking at one of the four footings to the 100-foot steel tower on which the bomb was placed and exploded
The tower was vaporized in the explosion leaving only the concrete and rebar anchors
In the background are the Oscura Mountains
Note on recto: "Zero Tower Footings U.S. Army Photo"
Digital publisher
New Mexico State University Library
Source
NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections
Source collection name: White Sands Missile Range Photographs, 1905-1950s