Rio Grande Historical Collections Photographs, 1885-1950s
Date
circa 1945
Decade
1940s
Subject (LCSH)
Adobe houses
Shared housing
Dry stone walls
Deserts
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
The Schmidt/McDonald ranch house master bedroom was used by Manhattan Project scientists as a clean room for the assembly of the plutonium core to the world’s first atomic bomb
Although the ranch house is only two miles from Ground Zero, it survived the explosion on July 16, 1945
The original 4-room adobe house was built in 1913 by Franz Schmidt who run sheep and cattle in the area
George McDonald later acquired the ranch and was the last owner before the military leased and then bought the property
It is now part of the Trinity Site National Historic Landmark
Digital publisher
New Mexico State University Library
Source
NMSU Library Archives and Special Collections
Source collection name: White Sands Missile Range Photographs, 1905-1950s