The first stop was about 80 miles further, at Trinity Site. This morning was one of the twice a year open houses. Arriving at the Stallion Gate of White Sands Missile Range about 8:20 AM, there was a quarter mile line of cars waiting to clear security. Usually 3-4,000 attend these open houses.
15 minutes later, I was through security and made the 17 mile drive to Trinity, the site of the world's first atomic bomb blast on July 16, 1945. No photos are permitted while driving across White Sands until reaching the actual site. After parking in the large lot, there was a quarter mile walk and two more gates to pass through to get to Ground Zero. The main area is about half the size of a football field and includes a lava monument at the actual location where the bomb sat. Near the memorial there is still a small bit of the remains of the base of the 100' tower that held the bomb, and if you search the ground closely, some Trininite - the green glass, made of sand that fused in the 19 megaton blast.
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