ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Change is in the air – literally. The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History construction project for its new museum has begun taking shape: the first steel has been placed on the site. The 555 cubic yards of concrete poured for the foundation will hold 89 tons of steel in the finished building.
The museum construction project is situated on 12 acres on the southwest corner of Eubank and Southern Boulevards, adjacent to the Sandia Science and Technology Park. The new building will be 30,000 square feet and will house 13 permanent major exhibits, along with 1,400 square feet for changing exhibits. The museum will utilize nine acres surrounding the building for displaying its large historical aircraft and military vehicle collection.
“It’s exciting to see the first beams rising up and in place. All that concrete and steel will transform into an exciting place for Albuquerque to showcase,” said Jim Walther, Museum Director. “The Museum has been in operation for almost forty years, and the new facility will allow us to increase our mission of exhibiting all facets of nuclear science and history as well as expand our education programs.”
In addition, the Museum has started documenting the construction via a “blog” site on the Internet. The blog also links to photos that are posted weekly to show the building’s progress. The link is: http://nuclearsciencemuseum.blogspot.com/
The National Atomic Museum opened in 1969 and was chartered by Congress in 1991. Located in Albuquerque near Old Town at 1905 Mountain Rd. NW, the museum’s exhibits include nuclear medicine, aircraft, pioneers of science, nuclear weapons history and arms control. The museum’s name will change to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in March 2009 when it moves to its new location in southeast Albuquerque. Visit the Museum’s website: www.atomicmuseum.org