That's me and Miss Atomic Bomb 1957. Yes, she was a real person. From a real beauty pageant.
Don't you just love her mushroom cloud costume? So classy. Back in the 50's, Nevadans were pretty proud of their big ol' Nuclear Test Site in the desert.
I came across a Groupon for tickets to the National Atomic Testing Museum and figured, hey! -- it might make a good date. At the very least it was something new and different.
First, we had lunch at Johnny Rockets. You know, the whole rocket/bomb/explosion theme. Food was *ehh*. Service was sloooow. But the butterfinger milkshake was delicious.
Onto the museum which was right next to the UNLV campus.
"In association with the Smithsonian Institution" . . . hmm, makes this place sound pretty legit. We might learn something today!
And we did. The biggest thing I learned was that underground nuclear testing in Nevada continued clear up until 1992. I was like, in 8th grade! (Above ground testing stopped in 1962).
You know what happens when you push the big red button . . . . .
This (below) was kind of funny. And sad.
All in all, the museum was . . . interesting and a little eye-opening (for someone who did not live in the nuclear age). Not a museum for children -- there really are no hands-on exhibits, just a lot of reading -- so kids would get bored, I think. But there was a cool little theater (mocked up like an underground bunker) where you get to "experience" an atomic blast -- bright flash of light, rumbling seats, and a big screen that plays a short film.
Despite the little green alien who seemed very inviting, we decided we weren't willing to pay extra $$ to go inside the Area 51 exhibit.
Instead, we came home, played with the kids, cooked dinner, and got to enjoy this sunset from our balcony.
