Jon Hunner Livres

A social history of New Mexico’s “Atomic City” Los Alamos, New Mexico, birthplace of the Atomic Age, is the community that revolutionized modern weaponry and science. An “instant city,” created in 1943, Los Alamos quickly grew to accommodate six thousand people—scientists and experts who came to work in the top-secret laboratories, others drawn by jobs in support industries, and the families. How these people, as a community, faced both the fevered rush to create an atomic bomb and the intensity of the subsequent cold-war era is the focus of Jon Hunner’s fascinating narrative history. Much has been written about scientific developments at Los Alamos, but until this book little has been said about the community that fostered them. Using government records and the personal accounts of early residents, Inventing Los Alamos, traces the evolution of the town during its first fifteen years as home to a national laboratory and documents the town’s creation, the lives of the families who lived there, and the impact of this small community on the Atomic Age.

Set in the Mesilla Valley, this book explores the rich history of southern New Mexico, highlighting its natural beauty and the communities that have thrived there. It features historic and contemporary photographs that capture the essence of life in the valley, from Radium Springs to the village of Mesilla. As part of the New Mexico Centennial History Series, it celebrates the state's centennial and offers insights from local historians. Authored by Jon Hunner, a professor at New Mexico State University, the book contributes to a deeper understanding of New Mexico's cultural heritage.

The narrative explores the life of atomic scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his pivotal role in establishing the atomic weapons research lab at Los Alamos, New Mexico. It highlights how his involvement transformed the region, attracting skilled individuals and significant federal funding, thereby intertwining his legacy with the area's historical development.