Nuclear Theory Monument Essay
Public history is a concept that has existed in some way for thousands of years. One example of this is the creation and use of monuments and memorials to remind society of significant events. These structures provide a unique way of experiencing history and understanding the sentiment of society at the time of creation. One example of this is the Nuclear Theory monument. The Nuclear Theory monument was constructed to commemorate the creation of the world first self-sustaining controlled Nuclear Reactor. The reactor constructed in 1942 and named CP-1 or Chicago Pile #1 was located inside the squash courts of the University of Chicago. Enrico Fermi, an Italian physicist, and the Manhattan Project team constructed the CP-1 Reactor in secret, which after 30 attempts was able to sustain a controlled reaction for 33 minutes. After the completion of this final test, the team knew that is event was a significant scientific discovery and marked the location at which it had occurred. Constructed 25 years after the event occurred, a monument now stands on the location of the reactor. Commissioned by the B.F. Ferguson monument fund and named
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Many of these monuments like the ones located at the Nagasaki and Hiroshima peace parks solely addresses the destructive nature of the research completed by the Manhattan project and the pain and fear that this technology can create. The Nuclear Energy monument on the other hand, allows the audience to reflect on the both the constructive and destructive products of these discoveries. This sentiment reflected by Moore, “It meant that by being successful Man was able to control this huge force for peaceful purposes as well as destructive ones.” This shows that the design of the sculpture is such that it should cause the viewers to reflect on both the beneficial and destructive nature of nuclear
Many of these monuments like the ones located at the Nagasaki and Hiroshima peace parks solely addresses the destructive nature of the research completed by the Manhattan project and the pain and fear that this technology can create. The Nuclear Energy monument on the other hand, allows the audience to reflect on the both the constructive and destructive products of these discoveries. This sentiment reflected by Moore, “It meant that by being successful Man was able to control this huge force for peaceful purposes as well as destructive ones.” This shows that the design of the sculpture is such that it should cause the viewers to reflect on both the beneficial and destructive nature of nuclear