35 miles north of Sante Fe, adjacent to the caldera of an exploded volcano on the Pajarito plateau, lies one of the most significant towns in American history.

Los Alamos, also called the Atomic City, Site "Y", and "the city on the hill" emerged on the modern landscape during World War II. The United States Manhattan project, tasked with developing the world's first atomic weapons, occupied Los Alamos beginning in 1943, creating a planned city to house the families and employees working on the secret endeavor.

Atomic bombs designed at Los Alamos were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan drawing the war to a close.

Afterwards a "great exodus" from Los Alamos began as many workers returned to their previous occupations. Many remained, however, to continue work as the Cold War escalated. In 1947 the site was transferred from military control to the Atomic Energy Commission and the federal government lifted many restrictions governing the city.

Research at Los Alamos continued throughout the Cold War, contributing many breakthroughs in nuclear science, both for military and civilian use. Today the city still houses the Los Alamos National laboratory that continues work on advanced technologies such as hydrogen fuel cell development, supercomputing, and applied environmental research.

The area surrounding Los Alamos is also rich in ancient and geological history. Bandelier National monument, home to ancient Puebloan ruins and the Jemez National Forest invite visitors to explore a unique world beyond the significance of Las Alamos' atomic history.