National Museum of Nuclear Science and History: learning about our nuclear past

There are particularly fascinating exhibits on Germany and Japan’s attempt to build a nuclear weapon, and the fears of the US scientists that induced FDR to go ahead and begin the famous Manhattan Project. The Japanese Internment camps and Pearl harbor and the Bataan Death March are part of another exhibit, along with information that in 1944 the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of the act. The decision was that it is permissible to curtail the rights of a racial group when there is a “pressing public necessity.” In 1988 President Ronald Reagan officially apologized for the internment saying that the government activity was based on racial prejudice and war hysteria. Other exhibits tell the costs to the people of Japan, as well as the recovery of the cities. The loss of life is captured by a fused tricycle that had been ridden by a little boy, and the story (told too briefly) of Sadako. There wasn’t enough information to tell me who she was, so I looked her up online. There was a nonfiction children’s book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Caught in the bombing of Hiroshima. According to Wikipedia Sadako spent her time in a nursing home folding paper cranes in hope of making a thousand, which supposedly would have allowed her to make one wish, which was to live. However, she only managed to fold 644 before she became too weak. She died shortly after. Friends and family helped build a statue of Sadako holding a giant paper crane in Hiroshima Peace Park after she died. Don’t miss the propaganda posters and the explanation of how propaganda works. If we understand the process, perhaps we’ll be less likely to fall for its manipulations. After the war, everything atomic and nuclear seemed to fascinate the population. Little was made of the dangers of radiation so there was radium water as a remedy for eczema, stomach trouble from the Hotel Sequoia Baths. Radiated skin powder with Thorium. And, Fiesta dinnerware with its instantly popular bright colors. Only problem was the use of radioactive thorium to produce those glowing reds, oranges and greens. Nearby, an exhibit actual showed the high radioactivity of a piece of what appears to be the dinnerware. There’s a wonderful and engaging children’s area. And a theater showing three different hour-long movies. The one entitled Secrets, Lies, and Atomic Spies, created and aired by Nova, it was fascinating and provides a whole different perspective on atomic secrets, decoding efforts, and Julius and Ethel Rosenberg (among others). Before you leave, go outside and explore some of the bombs, missiles and airplanes.