27 Mar Field Trip Spotlight: Oak Ridge, TN

A couple of weeks ago, my family and two others took a day trip to Oak Ridge, TN. We learned about the secret city and saw the home of the Manhattan Project. We had a marvelous time! Since then, I’ve been surprised to discover how little-known that area is by our local homeschool community. 

We started our day by meeting at a central location and swapping kids among the three minivans. With everyone now riding with friends, we set off in our caravan for a day of fun. The morning was gray and rainy, but our hopes were high for sunshine and good times once we arrived. Nonstop chatter and laughter filled the two-and-a-half-hour drive. As we entered the beautiful region of East Tennessee, we were delighted to leave the heavy clouds behind us.

 All three of our families are studying modern history this year, so our children were already familiar with World War II and life during that period. Our main purposes for the field trip were to uncover the secrets of the “secret city” and give all of us the opportunity to make some personal connections with what we’ve been learning.

First Stop: A.K. Bissell Park

Located on either side of the Oak Ridge Library, A.K. Bissell Park is home to the Secret City Commemorative Walk. This curving path features ten plaques telling the story of the city’s role during the war. Just as informative and interesting are the eight markers revealing what life was like for its inhabitants during the years that the city was closed off from the rest of the world. These markers give context for the names engraved on the four Founder Walls where the original city founders are remembered. This area is worth your time; there is great scope for imagination in all the history recorded here.

Around and beyond the library, the park opens up into a grassy space with winding paths branching out from the central focal point – a giant, four-ton bronze bell. Known as the International Friendship Bell, it was made to celebrate the city’s fiftieth birthday. Designed by an artist from Oak Ridge and cast by a Japanese foundry, one side of the bell features images that represent the island nation. The other side displays flora and fauna immediately recognizable as native to eastern Tennessee. The children loved ringing the massive bell, but after the initial exuberance, we stepped back to soak in the sight. We let our minds drift to another time and imagined making the transition from war-torn enemies to peace-loving friends.

K-25 History Center

We had only so many hours to explore Oak Ridge, so we did our homework ahead of time and chose just one of the city’s four museums to tour that afternoon. The K-25 History Center was the perfect choice! Built next to the original uranium enrichment complex, this museum is deceptively small but full of ideas and information. Children and adults alike loved the interactive exhibits. I highly recommend staying long enough to watch the extra films that are available. We sat in appreciative silence as we watched short documentaries about the development of the complex, the decision to use atomic weapons and the crew who undertook the dangerous mission to drop the first atomic bomb in warfare. 

The more than two hundred fifty original artifacts on display include such fascinating items as a biscuit pan made from scrap metal and a sanitation bucket kept in case of enemy attack. There’s a life-size replica of the atomic bomb Little Boy and a full control panel display. Did you know that employees (mostly young women) were more efficient at monitoring these panels than were the scientists who created them? I didn’t!

You might wonder whether the science behind building atomic weapons could be accessible to kids in elementary and middle school, but the museum does an excellent job of breaking down information. Even visitors with no physics or chemistry background can grasp what was happening at the plant. I was especially grateful to have my husband with us, though. He’s a scientist and made a big difference in just how much our children understood from each display.

There is so much to see and do in Oak Ridge, but by the time we had spent a few hours in the K-25 History Center, we agreed that our brains were filled to bursting with new knowledge. We were ready to return home. With everyone tired after an exciting day, the drive back was quiet and peaceful. 

Making Discoveries Close to Home

Late last spring my family took a trip out west to see the Grand Canyon and other national parks. It was an amazing experience! But Middle Tennessee is close to many wonderful attractions just waiting to be discovered. Because it’s home, it can feel more commonplace than exciting. As the brilliant educator Charlotte Mason said, “The flowers, it is true, are not new; but the children are…” Our local history and sights may seem old hat to parents, but it’s all new to the children. Their eager interest helps to keep the spark of excitement alive in us, too. Oak Ridge is one of the local gems worth exploring. If you get the opportunity to visit, you won’t regret it!