The American Museum of Science & Energy
Written: May 31 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Interesting for science, energy, and history.
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Unlike the stodgy museums, AMSE is fun. Yet it provides deep insights into important subjects, especially World War II and atomic energy.
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| fhkerr's Full Review: Tennessee |
Overview
Tennessee has much to see: cities, universities, beautiful scenery, and even people who sing and play country music. For me, the single most interesting thing is The American Museum of Science & Energy at Oak Ridge. My wife and I recently visited good friends in Knoxville, and they took us to Oak Ridge, which is just 22 miles to the northwest. What I saw expanded my knowledge of many things, and I hated to leave.
Why Oak Ridge?
Most folks my age have some memory of Oak Ridge in connection with the atomic bomb. It turned out that my own understanding of World War II was rather thin on that subject. I knew that the name, “Manhattan Project,” had been used. I learned how massive and secret that project was. Oak Ridge was selected in 1942 because of its distance from the coasts, remoteness, and availability of electric power because of the TVA. Albert Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt explaining the potential of a fission bomb. Since Germany was also working on the idea, Roosevelt realized its importance to national security.
The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers took charge of moving from basic research to the weapon, and the effort was much more extensive than I had realized. At Oak Ridge, a city and three huge manufacturing plants were rapidly and secretly built on a 60,000-acre tract in a very short time. The 3,000 residents were given one week to vacate in the interests of the war effort. Oak Ridge played a major role in producing both plutonium 239 and uranium 235, the fissionable material.
Entrance Display
Outside the main entrance to AMSE stands an interesting sculpture. It is a 13-foot tall scale model of the World Trade Center twin towers. The personnel of Limor Steel produced it from shards of rusted steel. Originally, it was a display to continue until September 15, 2003, but we were told it may become a permanent exhibit.
Exhibits
When we entered the building, we went right to the large exhibit on the first floor entitled: “Oak Ridge: World War II Secret City.” It is a fascinating assemblage of equipment, photographs, posters, videos, and explanations about that little known chapter in our history. Spending a few hours there is a real eye opener. For example, what do you do if you need large amounts of copper to build an electromagnetic plant but all the copper has already gone for the war effort? If you have the clout and cost is no concern, just use $300 Million worth of silver. It was borrowed from the U. S. Treasury and has been returned. We learned that most of the people working on the Manhattan Project knew only the process they performed, little or nothing about what this was all about. Women would watch dials and push buttons with absolutely no idea they were building a new kind of bomb, a weapon of mass destruction. The exhibit also shows how work done at the University of Chicago and at the University of California fed into the Manhattan Project.
Other first-floor exhibits include the Trinity Test Site, a vortex simulator, science and technology careers, robots, and Cold War civil defense.
Upstairs, this large museum puts the visitor up close and personal with the early atomic bombs (empty, I assume) as well as nuclear artillery shells, missiles, and the latest thermonuclear bomb. The trend has been more powerful and physically smaller.
Also on the 2nd floor is a hands-on interactive gallery, life in the secret city, Spallation neutron source, and the atom itself.
Since AMSE has broadened its scope beyond nuclear energy, the second floor also has a large exhibit on America’s energy resources. Since I grew up in Western Pennsylvania, I thought I knew something about coal. I found out that even my current state, Arizona, has some coal reserves!
Outside the building, there is a solar power array and an exhibit of bioenergy crops.
Facility
The AMSE opened in 1949 in an old wartime cafeteria, but the present building opened in 1975. It is modern and has more than adequate facilities for an extended visit.
One feature is the Discovery Shop, a place to buy science and energy toys, books, and games, as well as Oak Ridge souvenirs.
We paid an admission fee of $2, which may be a senior rate. Upon admission, we received a very well designed information folder with floor plans.
AMSE is very well managed, and staff members are interested in answering questions.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
fhkerr
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Location: AZ, USA
Reviews written: 80
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
I am retired. Interests: travel, gourmet food, wine, books and film.
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