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Trinity Site: 1945– 1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

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Author: White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office

After the Explosion

Name: Trinity Site: 1945– 1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico - After the Explosion
Author: White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office

Although no information on the test was released until after the atomic bomb was used as a weapon against Japan, people in New Mexico knew something had happened. The shock broke windows 120 miles away and was felt by many at least 160 miles away. Army officials simply stated that a munitions storage area had accidentally exploded at the Alamogordo Bombing Range.

The explosion did not make much of a crater. Most eyewitnesses describe the area as more of a small depression instead of a crater. The heat of the blast did melt the desert sand and turn it into a green glassy substance. It was called Trinitite and can still be seen in the area. At one time Trinitite completely covered the depression made by the explosion. Afterwards the depression was filled and much of the Trinitite was taken away by the Nuclear Energy Commission.

To the west of the monument is a low structure which is protecting an original portion of the crater area. Trinitite is visible through openings in the roof.

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Chicago: White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office, "After the Explosion," Trinity Site: 1945– 1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, ed. Darwin, Francis, Sir, 1848-1925 and Seward, A. C. (Albert Charles), 1863-1941 and trans. Miall, Bernard in Trinity Site: 1945–1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico Original Sources, accessed January 15, 2025, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GH7QSDRCLMJXDFP.

MLA: White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office. "After the Explosion." Trinity Site: 1945– 1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, edited by Darwin, Francis, Sir, 1848-1925 and Seward, A. C. (Albert Charles), 1863-1941, and translated by Miall, Bernard, in Trinity Site: 1945–1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Original Sources. 15 Jan. 2025. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GH7QSDRCLMJXDFP.

Harvard: White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office, 'After the Explosion' in Trinity Site: 1945– 1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, ed. and trans. . cited in , Trinity Site: 1945–1995. A National Historic Landmark, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. Original Sources, retrieved 15 January 2025, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=GH7QSDRCLMJXDFP.