Los Alamos History Museum

The Los Alamos Historical Society is committed to interpreting and promoting the history of the Pajarito Plateau. The Society manages the Los Alamos History Museum in the heart of downtown Los Alamos. The museum is a must-see for any visitor to Los Alamos, New Mexico who is interested in the ancient and recent history of Los Alamos.

Built as an infirmary in 1918 and later used as the guest cottage for Los Alamos Ranch School, the museum is in the oldest continually occupied structure in town. During the Manhattan Project (1943 to 1947), the cottage continued to serve as guest quarters, notably for General Leslie R. Groves, commander of the Manhattan Engineer District, whose office and residence were in Washington, D.C.

Now it serves as an award-winning, comprehensive history museum which presents our world-changing and varied history. A book and gift shop fills a former bedroom.

WHAT TO SEE

The Museum tells the stories of those who were to arrive on the Plateau. Visitors experience where great decisions were and still are being made.
Visiting the Los Alamos History Museum can take up to 45 minutes – depending on the level of detail you are interested in.  The museum has award-winning exhibits on regional geology, anthropology, the Los Alamos Ranch School founded by Ashley Pond, and the Manhattan Project.

TOURS

Two daily History of the Secret City guided tours are available Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. On Saturdays, there is one tour at 11:00 a.m. The tour includes a visit inside the homestead-era Romero cabin, information on a nearby Ancestral Pueblo site, stories about the giants of 20th century physics, and how Bathtub Row got its name. Each tour is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long.

The Los Alamos Historical Society also offers a one-hour Espionage in the Secret City tour available Monday – Friday from 12 p.m.-1 pm. 

Tickets for the guided tours are available at the Los Alamos History Museum Shop and are $25 for anyone over 18 years old, under 18 are free with a paid adult. Reservations and prepaying are suggested due to the overwhelming popularity of the tours. Tours are available on request for school groups and other large groups. Contact the Museum at 505-709-7794 to schedule a tour or visit the Los Alamos History Museum tour page for more information. The museum is self-guided.

KIDS

We do not have any physical activities for young children in the museum. We do have special kids’ programs.

OPPENHEIMER HOUSE FUND

Support the preservation and restoration of the Oppenheimer House.

The Oppenheimer House Fund will help the Los Alamos Historical Society fund the necessary repairs to open the house to the public. Donate Here.