National Atomic Testing Museum Announces Programs, Promotions

The National Atomic Testing Museum (NATM) announces its roster of public programs and promotions for June.

All museum events require registration. For more information on the museum’s programs and to register, visit www.nationalatomictestingmuseum.org/museum-events/.

“In the Dawn’s Early Light” A Special Presentation by Jeanne Sharp Howerton
Date: Saturday, June 25
Time: 1 to 2 p.m.
Location: Museum members and students with valid IDs receive special access to watch the presentation in person at the museum. Non-members can also watch the presentation online via Zoom.
Cost: Free for museum members or students with valid IDs. $15 for non-members. To RSVP, click here.
Description: Jeanne Sharp Howerton, a fourth-generation Nevadan who grew up on the Blue Eagle Ranch at the edge of the Nevada Test Site, will share her visual memoir “In the Dawn’s Early Light.” In 1951 at the age of 10, Howerton began keeping diaries detailing her experiences of watching atomic bomb detonations from her childhood home and recording the impact atomic testing had on her family and neighbors. She will also share original images captured on her slide camera in the 1950s.
Speaker: As a historian, author and photographer, Jeanne Sharp Howerton has published six books on the history of ranching and mining camps in eastern Nye County, Nevada. For more than 30 years, she also taught for the Clark County School District’s program for gifted students. After retiring she began writing full-time and giving talks about local history.

Distinguished Lecture Series: Women in Science Panel Discussion
Date: Thursday, June 30
Time: 12 to 2 p.m.
Location: Inside the National Atomic Testing Museum. A live stream of the panel discussion will also be available via Zoom.
Cost: Free. To RSVP, click here.
Description: To celebrate notable women in science, the museum is bringing together accomplished female leaders playing key roles in securing the safety of the United States and its allies. During the event, each panelist will speak about critical work in nuclear security and participate in a discussion led by the moderator. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask the panelists questions. Afterward, guests can enjoy an exclusive meet-and-greet following the discussion.

Speakers:

Jill Hruby, undersecretary for Nuclear Security and administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Dr. Baolian Cheng of the plasma theory and applications group for the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
RaJah Mena of the remote sensing laboratory for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Laura Tomlinson, deputy manager for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Nevada Field Office, will moderate the discussion.

Community Outreach Events
With a strong commitment to the Las Vegas community, the museum regularly participates in community outreach events. Outreach not only includes educational lessons about the history of nuclear testing but also topics related to science, technology, engineering, mathematics and more. In June, NATM will attend the following outreach events:

Casino Collectibles Association Convention on Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Development coordinator Gillian Riggleman and assistant store manager Rozi Stambek will distribute informational materials about the museum and offer merchandise from the museum store.

Guided Tours
To preserve and foster public accessibility to the history associated with the Nevada Test Site and the nation’s nuclear weapons program, NATM regularly hosts field trips for the Clark County School District and other collegiate institutions. In June, NATM will host the following guided tours:

Henderson Homeschool Explorers on Tuesday, June 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sun City Summerlin Travel Group on Thursday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Historical Dates in June

Priscilla Test 65-year anniversary: As one of 29 nuclear tests conducted at the former Nevada Test Site as part of Operation Plumbbob, the United States conducted the Priscilla Test on June 24, 1957. The 37 kiloton bomb was detonated at 700 feet above the Frenchman Flat valley floor via a helium-filled plastic balloon.

Discounted Admission for Nevada Residents, Seniors, Students and Active Military
Cost: Various discounted tickets range from $18 to $20
Description: The National Atomic Testing Museum offers exclusive discounts for Nevada residents, seniors 62 years or older, students and active military. Tickets can be purchased in person or online by clicking here.

ABOUT NATIONAL ATOMIC TESTING MUSEUM
The National Atomic Testing Museum (NATM) 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. NATM 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, NATM’s exhibitions and programming also address current affairs related to the nuclear industry. For more information, go to www.nationalatomictestingmuseum.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.