The Girls of Atomic City

The motif of everyday life offers insights into the realities of living in Oak Ridge: the normality that the residents strive are juxtaposed with the intensely secretive world of the Project. Central to this is the fact that, regardless of how top secret the Project is, a gathering of thousands of people, some of them families, many of them young, single people, all living in close proximity, will still desire to live their lives. Young people will want to socialize, date, and enjoy themselves, and couples and families will want quality time together and the opportunity to interact with others outside of the family unit. Initially, many of these needs are not being met, with a resulting strain on the mental health of the inhabitants. Eventually, there is a drive-in cinema, miniature golf, and rolling skating rinks, sports clubs, etc. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts gather among the factory plants and barbed wire fences, and hiking groups explore the surrounding hills. Other activities range from jazz appreciation societies and an orchestra through to gardening groups and even the Rabbit Breeders Association, all offering reminders that mundane, quotidian aspects of life continue even at site where history is being written.