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Secret WWII Nuclear City Now Open to Tourists
A uranium plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., was once a secret guarded so fervently that the plant didn't have an address, nor did it appear on any maps. But it's a secret no more -- in fact, it's a tourist attraction. Parts of the plant are now open for visitors to explore on a 2.5-hour guided tour. But there's a catch -- the visitors must be American citizens. The Oak Ridge facility is the site of the world's first fully-operational nuclear reactor, and oversaw the separation of uranium 235 from natural uranium. It was also a key part of the project that instrumented the dropping of the atomic bombs over Hiroshima. The lives of those who lived and worked in Oak Ridge were closely intertwined with this secretive operation, so closely guarded that the word uranium was rarely used -- tuballoy was a common stand-in.
To find out more about the secret city of Oak Ridge, check out this article from Reuters.
Filed under: Stories, North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
zar Aug 14th 2007 8:47PM
How Freaking Morbid ! what a world !
Helen Aug 14th 2007 8:56PM
History is morbid? Do you feel the same way about Auschwitz? Should people not go there to remember? What about Gettysburg or Yorktown? Should every site of history never be visited by tourists? How else should we truly remember?
Lin Aug 14th 2007 8:56PM
This is nothing new, in news. The place has been like this for many years & who the hell would want to even take a tour of it. It is a decusting, terrible looking place. If you drive by, beleive me, you would not want to stop, for you would fear for your life if you ever would get out.
The death trap should be closed for ever!! Anyone who would even consider going inside is a sicko! & may never come out!
Lin Aug 14th 2007 9:03PM
Just driving by the place gives you the creeps. This is not like visting an historal place. It's hell. & the town is also hell looking. it's dead & I have been threw there many a times, no way I would even stop for a coffee in that hell hole.
Charlie C. Aug 14th 2007 9:14PM
This article is a bunch of bunk; Oak Ridge,TN is no secret and has never been. The workings of the lab may have been kept under wraps until the early 50's but this is no different than numerous other sensitive governmental AND private corporate enterprises. Oak Ridge is no an eyesore either. It has beautifully managed commercial areas with hotels and restaurants and has a world-class rowing facility which hosts collegiate events and training for U.S. Olympians.
Mikki Aug 14th 2007 9:14PM
IF THIS HAS BEEN KEPT FROM US, WHAT ELSE IS OUR GOVT. KEEPING FROM US? THINK OUT SIDE THE THE 'GOLDEN CIRCLE'AND NO ONE WILL KNOW.
mrdickieweed Aug 14th 2007 9:45PM
I live in Middle Tennesse and have heard about Oak Ridge for years...I finally went for a visit and tour, and it was definitely not worth the time or the money....first of all the guides, who have lived there for years, are all real weird skeletal looking guys, and their hair is all falling out....they shuffle and break into real loud cackling laughter for no reason, and during my tour the lights went out and they glowed in the dark....creeped me out dude....that can't be right....
al Aug 14th 2007 9:22PM
stupid ignorant people, the people who worked in this town saved thousands of lives, perhas even your parents, the work done was necessary to win a terrible war, and for those who think it was not terrible look up concentratrion camps and mitsubishi the coal mined during world war two in japan used allies under criminal conditions
Adam Aug 14th 2007 9:29PM
I am just amazed that people in TN ,responding to this, have & are able to use computers! :-)
Paul Aug 14th 2007 10:19PM
How can a town with a country music group named after it be a secret....Or did I miss the government mind wash that erased memries of the Oak Ridge Boys???
Jack Aug 14th 2007 9:35PM
A secret place? I have known of this town and its' purpose for years. And Al, american POWs were forced into slave labor at he Mitsubishi plants but the mines werre operated by Matsui. Familar names?
Bobbie Aug 14th 2007 9:51PM
Amazing, look at the comments, so few even resemble intelligent thought processes.
glenda Aug 14th 2007 9:51PM
yes we people in tn can use computers and we can read and write and we can spot an ignorant person like yourself from a distance!!!!!!
Rick Aug 14th 2007 9:51PM
Adam, BITE ME!!!!! If it were not for the people that worked in these plants in Tennessee, you probably wouldn't be here today!! Lin, exactly what kind of town do you live in?? This is a very nice town. The U.S. Dept. of Energy is locate here. The place is clean and practically crime free.
E. Bailey Smith Aug 14th 2007 10:03PM
Lin can't spell, and mrdickieweed is a prevaricator. The guides at Oak Ridge do not and never did glow inb the dark or anywhere else. SThe guides are local people and do not cackle for no reason--they probably snicker at thumbsuckers like murdickiehead who know nothing about radioactivity or U235. God help us all if folks like these vote
Ashley Aug 14th 2007 9:59PM
The "Oak Ridge secret" really isn't that big of a deal honestly. I live in Sevierville, about 45 minutes away and its a very interesting place. The lab has never been a secret from me or my family. The site does hold much history and we cannot just forget it exists. Also, I'm glad to see so many highly educated people out there who believe all people in Tennessee are ignorant hicks. That, in fact, shows YOUR own stupidity. Perhaps next time we shall think before we type?
lreenterprise Aug 14th 2007 10:43PM
Oak Ridge is a beautiful, small town. It hasn't been a secret for many years - particularly to anyone in Tennessee. It is, however, still high on the list of areas that could be of concern for terrorist strikes or stealing of radioactive materials so they do still have concerns about who tours it. They have some beautiful forests and wildlife in the area. Also, for those of you who are surprised that Southerners have computers and know how to use them, we keep that a secret and just bring it out for tourists (American only :).
Carl Aug 14th 2007 10:11PM
It is amasing how dumb some people are. Oak Ridge never was a secret town. The plant was off-limits to the public for security reasons.
Randy Aug 14th 2007 10:11PM
Unfortunately the good done in Oak Ridge saved even the idiots like Adam, sometimes I think genocide of the idiots like him would be a blessing. Too bad he wasn't in a concentration camp
sara Aug 14th 2007 10:05PM
you're showing quite a bit of ignorance when you make comments like that Adam lol.. but you're not the only one. i went to a fly-in in oshkosh, wi a few years ago, and as soon as some people found out i was from tn, they immediately looked at my feet and asked if we wear shoes down here. i couldn't believe people thought that. there are rednecks, poor, middle class, and rich people living in every state of this country.. there just happens to be idiots living everywhere too.. adam :)