Explore Los Alamos

The Oppenheimer Festival invites you to explore Los Alamos through a variety of self-guided and guided tours that connect the town’s rich history with its vibrant present. Whether you’re arriving from Santa Fe or walking the streets where the Manhattan Project unfolded, these experiences offer a deeper way to see the “Secret City.”

Road to The Hill – Audio Driving Tour

Step into history as you drive the same route scientists, soldiers, and civilians once took to reach the top-secret city of Los Alamos. This self-guided audio tour begins just north of Santa Fe and winds through ancient pueblos, striking desert landscapes, and key Manhattan Project landmarks.

Hear stories of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s love for New Mexico, the guarded Otowi Bridge, and the communities that shaped — and were shaped by — the atomic age.

Your journey ends at the SALA Event Center, where you can pick up your Oppenheimer Festival button and start the celebration.

Festival Tour – Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

Starting at SALA, this self-guided audio tour leads you through ten historic downtown sites—like Fuller Lodge, the Oppenheimer House, and Bathtub Row—blending Manhattan Project stories with today’s shops, museums, and cafés.

Expert-Guided Tours by the Los Alamos Historical Society

Espionage in the Secret City

Offered on select days during the festival, this guided experience dives into the real-life spy stories from the Manhattan Project. Learn how Soviet agents infiltrated Los Alamos and how secret messages, code drops, and surveillance shaped the course of history. Tours run on August 19, 21, 26, and 28 at noon.

History of the Secret City

Led by the Los Alamos Historical Society, this 90-minute guided tour traces the town’s evolution from a remote boys’ school to a top-secret scientific hub. You’ll visit an ancestral Pueblo site, the historic Romero Cabin, preserved Ranch School buildings, and learn about daily life during World War II. Tours are available Monday through Friday at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, and Saturdays at 11:00 AM, departing from the Los Alamos History Museum.

Visitlosalamos.org

Visit Los Alamos Tours

If you’d rather explore Los Alamos on your own schedule, VisitLosAlamos.org offers a series of virtual brochure tours that bring the town’s rich history and culture to life. From preserved homesteads to atomic-era landmarks and Pueblo art, these tours let you step into the story at your own pace. Printed brochures are also available at the SALA Event Center and local visitor centers during the festival.

Oppenheimer Film Tour

Lets you trace the real-world filming locations of Christopher Nolan’s Academy Award-winning film, seeing how Los Alamos played itself on the big screen.

Homestead Tour

Reaches further back to tell the story of the early settlers, featuring restored cabins and insight into pre-war life in the high desert.

Los Alamos Historical Walking Tour

Guides you through key historic locations across downtown, highlighting the architecture, places, and events that defined the town during the Manhattan Project.

San Ildefonso Pottery Trail

Leads you on an art walk across six sites displaying large-scale Pueblo pottery replicas, honoring the Tewa artists whose legacy still resonates throughout the region.