The massive K-25 building was the largest in the world at the time it was built in the 1940s. (AP Photo/U.S. Department of Energy)When "furriners" from around the country started flocking to the 59,000 acres of farmland just northwest of Knoxville in 1942, residents in the surrounding cities were suspicious of their new neighbors' tight lips and mysterious objective.
But now the secret's out: Oak Ridge is a natural beauty with a fascinating nuclear history worth experiencing.
Born out of World War II, "The Secret City" was built by the government from scratch to quietly enrich the uranium used in the first atomic bomb. Today, the town is still internationally known for its contributions to nuclear power, science and technology - as well as its festivals, museums and area lakes.
Whether you're looking interact with American history or relax with the family, Oak Ridge has something for you.
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TOP-SECRET TIDBITSThe current population of Oak Ridge is about 29,000, but at its peak year in 1945, the population was 75,000, making it the fifth-largest city in the state at that time.To facilitate the large number of people pouring in, prefabricated houses were shipped to Oak Ridge in sections. At the town’s peak, workers were producing about 30 houses a day.>At one point, Oak Ridge was consuming about 14 percent of all the electricity produced in the United States — and still, no one knew it was there.After World War II ended, Oak Ridge was shifted from government control to civilian control under the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission’s authority. It was incorporated as a self-governing entity in 1959.
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*OPERATION: NATIONAL PARK*The Manhattan Project National Historical Park is a new three-park site in Oak Ridge shared with Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington, other notable sites of the Manhattan Project. The park in Oak Ridge includes:The footprint of K-25, a now-demolished gaseous diffusion plant that was once the world’s largest building.The X-10 Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It was the world’s second artificial nuclear reactor, and it was used to power the second bomb dropped on Japan.Building 9731 and Building 9204-3 at the Y-12 National Security Complex used to enrich uranium.
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*UNDER-THE-RADAR SITESThe International Friendship Bell, which sits proudly on Badger Avenue, is the first monument shared between a Manhattan Project city and Japan. Passersby can stop and ring the bell, a symbol of peace and friendship.The Wheat Community African Burial Ground is an 1850’s slave cemetery holding nearly 100 unmarked graves. The resting place is one of the 90 historic cemeteries in Oak Ridge, and it serves as a monument to all enslaved Americans.
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A SECRET RECIPENamed one of USA Today’s 51 greatest pizza parlors, Big Ed’s Pizza is one of Oak Ridge’s best-kept secrets. (101 Broadway Ave.)Aside from tasting delicious New York-style slices, visitors can walk around and enjoy the pizzeria’s unusual collection, which ranges from autographed sports items to photos of past Miss Tennessees.If you’re looking for dessert, check out Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab, which offers homemade ice creams and sorbets, as well as dinner specials like smoked ribs and gourmet burgers. (201 Jackson Square.)
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IT’S ALIVE!The American Museum of Science & Energy brings science and history to life with exhibits showcasing everything from Manhattan Project artifacts to hands-on static electricity and robotics activities. The museum is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is $3-$5, and free for children under age 5.
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*NOT-SO-HUSH-HUSH EVENTSEach June, the Secret City Festival showcases Oak Ridge’s historic and modern-day achievements through two days of free family fun. Festival events include a large WWII battle re-enactment, musical performances by artists like Charlie Daniels, and a plethora of exciting activities for children.Also held each June, the Lavender Festival celebrates health, herbs and the environment through live music, fine arts, cooking demonstrations and educational presentations.