"Oppenheimer" Movie Spurs Record Tourism at New Mexico's Trinity Atomic Bomb Site

Record tourism driven by Christopher Nolan's blockbuster film ‘Oppenheimer,’ showcases power of film industry and highlights a lesser-known historical site; officials warn of long access waits and restricted amenities.

• New Mexico's Trinity site, the location of the world's first atomic bomb detonation, is experiencing record tourism due to an increase in interest sparked by Christopher Nolan's film, 'Oppenheimer'.
• Trinity site, normally closed to the public, opens twice a year and is expecting thousands of visitors. Entry wait times are predicted to be around two hours, with a maximum of 5,000 visitors allowed in each day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• The film, which has passed $500 million at the global box office, has turned out to be the most successful WWII-set movie ever and is the highest-grossing film ever not to reach the top slot at the domestic box office.
• The 'Oppenheimer' film, among other effects, has also sparked a serious discussion about the effects of the atomic bomb tests on local residents. The Tularosa Basin Downwinders plan to protest outside the gates to highlight the health issues caused by radioactive ash from the tests, which the group says the U.S. government did not sufficiently warn residents about.
• Despite the solemn history, the fanfare from 'Oppenheimer' has been embraced in Los Alamos, more than 200 miles north of the Tularosa Basin, with 200 locals, including Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, featuring as extras in the film and the city hosting an Oppenheimer Festival.

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