text: Impressive in its scope and presented by the Smithsonian with interactive exhibits and informative timelines from the development of the first atomic bomb in to the build up storage control and maintenance of a nuclear arsenal during the cold war and today this museum packs a literal powder keg punch of information and history about the nuclear age all under one roof A lot of the history displayed here coincides with other historical events in modern history from to present which is a very effective way of relating and giving a basis of the nuclear age to other historical events during the twentieth century Leave it to the Smithsonian They are epic in their ability to function as the curators of man nnYes there is some political propaganda that appears to justify the use of nuclear weapons to protect our nation from its enemies but even sothis is our history and there is no sense in trying to hide or sugar coat what happened It blew my mind to realize the naivetue of American society in the s and the fact that the deployment of atmospheric atomic testing in Nevada was actually a spectator sport Apparently so much so that the atomic tests were a boon to the Las Vegas economy as well as to Hollywood and it was fascinating to see how the atomicnuclear age became a sign of modern American pop culture nnMy husband and I came here because were burned out on the strip We wanted something different and we found this place by accident as it was near our hotel We spent a highly educational three hours browsing and reading many not all of the exhibits You could spend a whole day here there is that much information to absorb nnIt was very interesting to learn about the lives of the people who protected our freedom and as much as I wish as none of the testing would have ever happened for the sake of the planet and the many people who lost their lives as a result of the fallout from nuclear weapons I still think it is a history that needs to be told nnSurprisingly and startling the testing still goes on now at the Nevada test site but it is been underground since The irony is lost on many people but the US government has always been underground about how much was disclosed to the American people about nuclear testing and containment whether it was taking place in the atmosphere or underground That is why this museum is good It is a story that needs to be told even though not many people are wantingwilling to listen We are being spoon fed what the government wants us to know What is reveled here at ATM is only the tip of the iceberg of what actually occurred and continues today But the US government has always felt that a containment of the whole truth from the American people is necessary protect vital top secret information This is how they delude us into believing they are protecting our freedoms by not allowing the truth to fall into the wrong hands nnSpeaking of containment the containment of the radioactive waste of over years and hundreds of above and below ground nuclear tests from the Nevada Test site is also exhibited The land where the testing has taken place looks like a moonscape pocked by enormous craters that contain barrels and barrels of radioactive waste An earth scape that not many will ever see with their bare eyes How X Files If you are interested in learning about The other Las Vegas aka the top secret one of the nuclear age you will find it neatly tucked away about a mile off the Las Vegas strip yet light years apart