The Secret City
Born in war, Oak Ridge is the “Secret City” with a big story to tell.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the city of Oak Ridge didn’t even exist. In an effort to end the war, the U.S. government purchased rural farmland in 1942 and rapidly built the city of Oak Ridge, which would play a pivotal role in the Manhattan Project. Just two and a half years later, the Secret City skyrocketed to a population of 75,000, making it the fifth-largest city in Tennessee at the time
Calutron Girls of Oak Ridge
Photography by Ed Westcott
Explore our History
The Manhattan Project National Historical Park
The Manhattan Project National Park tells the story of the people, events, science, and engineering that changed the world.
The American Museum of Science and Energy
This family-friendly museum features diverse exhibits that delve into science.
The International Friendship Bell
This 8,000-pound bronze bell is a testament to the hope for everlasting peace and goodwill throughout the world.
Y-12 History Center
Learn the history of nuclear weapons, Y-12 National Security Complex, and Oak Ridge’s role in the Manhattan Project!
Historic Jackson Square
Jackson Square lies at the center of the historic district, which once served as the city’s original town site.
Alexander Inn / Guest House
The historic Alexander Inn, originally known as The Guest House, was built during the Manhattan Project.
Secret City Commemorative Walk
This memorial honors the thousands of men and women who moved to a secret city to help end World War II.
Chapel on the Hill
This beautiful wooden chapel was Oak Ridge, Tennessee’s primary church during the Manhattan Project.
Wheat Burial Ground
Believed to be part of the Gallaher-Stone Plantation, this 1850s slave cemetery has more than 90 unmarked graves.
John Hendrix Memorial Prayer Walk
According to local legend, Hendrix was just an ordinary farmer until he started having visions about the future of Oak Ridge.
Oak Ridge History Museum
The Oak Ridge History Museum focuses on Manhattan Project history and people’s day-to-day lives during World War II.
Museum of Appalachia
The Museum of Appalachia is a living history museum with self-guided tours.
K25 History Center
This museum honors the stories of those who helped construct and operate the K-25 uranium enrichment complex.
Oak Ridge Children's Museum
The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge has more than 20,000 artifacts showcased in more than 20 interactive exhibits.
Video Archive
CALUTRON GIRLS
The Calutron Girls were a group of young women, mostly high school graduates who joined the World War II efforts in Oak Ridge in 1945. Although they were not allowed to know at the time, they were monitoring dials and watching meters for a calutron, a mass spectrometer that separates uranium isotopes. The enriched uranium was used to make the first atomic bomb. Watch this video to learn more about their fascinating story.
OAK RIDGE: THE SECRET CITY
In this video, author Denise Kiernan (Girls of the Atomic City) shares five things you might not have known about The Manhattan Project’s Secret City.
THE OAK RIDGE STORY
It was the greatest industrial project in the history of the world, and its outcome was the most significant event of the 20th century. From 1942 – 1946, the United States Government conducted a classified operation known as the Manhattan Project.
OAK RIDGE HISTORY MUSEUM
The Oak Ridge History Museum is a place where you can come and experience the Manhattan era of Oak Ridge! Learn what people were like and how they lived.
EXPLORE OAK RIDGE'S MUSEUMS
Oak Ridge is home to four museums and you can visit them all on your next visit to the Secret City. Be sure to visit the American Museum of Science and Energy, the K-25 History Museum, The Oak Ridge History Museum, and the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum.
AMSE Virtual Tour
Want to take a virtual tour of the American Museum of Science and Energy? Watch this video to take a virtual look inside one of Oak Ridge’s biggest attractions.
Oak Ridge Children's Museum
The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge is a unique and educational resource, providing children of East Tennessee with the opportunity to learn while playing-to create, discover, solve, and experience, within non-traditional, interactive exhibit galleries.
In the Days of Mud
Around World War II, the quickly constructed Secret City was blanketed in a thick layer of mud. Learn more about Oak Ridge’s days of mud, a Special Exhibit by the National Park Service at the K-25 History Center in Oak Ridge, TN.
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