The Movie. The Man. The Manhattan Project
The big screen has landed in Los Alamos, New Mexico! Learn the true stories behind the historic events featured in “Oppenheimer,” a film by Christopher Nolan that debuted in July 2023.
Partially filmed in Los Alamos in the spring of 2022, the film cast includes several A-list actors, including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Gary Oldman, Kenneth Branagh, and Rami Malek, and is based off the book, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. It is being promoted as the “story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb.”
In Los Alamos, discover the historic events and places that were part of the Manhattan Project, including Historic Fuller Lodge, the Women’s Dorm, Oppenheimer’s House, and the United Church – to name a few.
Download an Oppenheimer Film Tour brochure [+] or pick one up around town or at one of the local visitor centers.
The public may visit some of the movie locations.
Seeking a unique experience or souvenir? Check out all of these local gifts, beverages and more!
Look for the “Oppie” icon at participating businesses and organizations!
For specific information about Los Alamos County’s “Project Oppenheimer,” including a growing calendar of events,
website links of education resources, contact information, a list of local assets, and much more, visit:
This documentary was created to show the connection and influence of our first director, J. Robert Oppenheimer, with LANL and our work today. His story is ours to tell. And, we’re in a unique position to do so. LANL’s National Security Research Center began as Oppenheimer’s wartime library; our collections include materials from him and about him. Many of these photos, film, and audio are being shared publicly for the first time ever.
Additionally, the documentary includes the Laboratory’s past and present leadership, historians, physicists, and biographers, including:
Telling this story was a yearlong effort and the result of many hardworking, creative people, but special recognition goes to LANL filmmaker Dave Tietmeyer. These efforts are validated by all the widespread interest in the documentary, including from DOE Secretary Jennifer Granholm, NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby, and JRO’s grandson Charles Oppenheimer, who traveled to the LANL to watch it with LANL staff.
View Part 1 of the documentary below, or visit here for all three videos.
The Oppenheimer House, today owned by the Los Alamos Historical Society, was initially built for the sister of the Director of the Los Alamos Ranch School. J. Robert Oppenheimer, his wife Kitty, and their very young children Peter and Toni lived there during the Manhattan Project. In this video, Heather McClenahan outlines the history of the Oppenheimer House before and during the Manhattan Project.
J. Robert Oppenheimer lived in this house from 1943 to 1945. Jerry and Helene Suydam moved into the Oppenheimer House in 1958. The house eventually will become part of the Los Alamos History Museum. In this video, J. Robert Oppenheimer recalls his daily schedule at Los Alamos.
Thanks to a generous gift from Helene and Jerry Suydam, the Oppenheimer House, often called the “crown jewel” of the Manhattan Project, is in the process of historic preservation, renovation, and exhibit development.
The Oppenheimer House Fund will support the urgent infrastructure needs of the house, including electrical upgrades, code and accessibility improvements, repair and rehabilitation, hazardous materials abatement, and a fire protection system. After these updates are complete, funds will support the development of innovative exhibits and ongoing maintenance.
All donations to this fund will go directly to the Oppenheimer House. Please join us in opening this historic home to the public.
Los Alamos County Marketing and Film
Economic Development Administrator
Dan Ungerleider
224.355.7200