History

Ancestors of current Native American tribes commonly referred to as “Anasazi” built communities and inhabited the area between A.D. 1150 and the 16th century.  Anasazi ruins are found throughout the County, most notably at Bandelier National Monument. 

In 1918, the Los Alamos Ranch School was established as a prep school that combined academic study with outdoor experience.  Many historic structures and trails remain from the Ranch School era.  The school operated for 25 years until the onset of the Manhattan Project.  In 1943, the Project was initiated and culminated in development of the first atomic weapon in 1945.  This project evolved into establishment of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Over the years LANL has become one of the largest multidisciplinary, multiprogram research institutions in the world.  LANL has developed top drawer capabilities in areas such as supercomputing, information management, advanced materials, sensor technologies, biosciences, earth/environmental sciences, and others.

The history of the Los Alamos area is on display at the Los Alamos Historical Museum, located in downtown Los Alamos. The Bradbury Science Museum, located in downtown Los Alamos, features exhibits on Manhattan Project history and the history of the LANL.