The legend of the NYC Cyclotron: a precursor to the age of Nuclear Bombs.

Published on: August 24th, 2023 | Written by: Bad Guy Joe

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Did you know the origin story of the nuclear bomb began deep under Manhattan, and became a secret abandoned exploring spot?

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From 1935 to 1936, John R. Dunning built America’s first “atom smasher’ cyclotron in the basement of Columbia University’s Pupin Hall. The thirty ton, twelve foot wide machine was basically built from scraps. And yet it worked well enough to provide a head-start on nuclear research. This work would eventually continue as the Manhattan Project, resulting in the age of nuclear bombs.

By 1965 the Columbia U. Cyclotron was shut down and abandoned. In fact, the entire basement of Pupin Hall was abandoned. Padlocked from above and shrouded in mystery.

Some of the earliest “urban Explorers’ were pre-internet college students who heard stories about the cyclotron, and found a way to access it through the labyrinth of steam tunnels beneath the college. It became a clandestine destination—an adventure to access and an unregulated space to engage in all manner of illicit activities. With the dawn of the internet, local NYC explorers learned how to access it.

Getting in required knowing the path through the maze-like tunnels, climbing through a hole in a wall, and later, climbing or disassembling a large metal gate (which we reassembled upon leaving, to cover our tracks). The payoff was worth the effort.

In 2008, during a campus expansion project, Columbia decided to scrap the cyclotron. Some effort was made to find it a new home, but ultimately this relic that helped reshape the world was unceremoniously cut up for scrap metal and recycled.

Comments

NOTE: It sometimes takes a short while for comments to be approved - unfortunately there's a lot of spam comments that come in. I absolutely love when y'all share personal stories of friends relatives etc who worked in these places. It really helps capture what these places were like before they closed up shop.

If you're feeling salty, argumentative comments completely devoid of facts (supply links to support your argument) will not be published. Got a case to state? come with the details.

One response to “The legend of the NYC Cyclotron: a precursor to the age of Nuclear Bombs.”

1. RM says:

   September 6, 2023 at 7:15 PM

   This is an important part of American history, one that should be properly shared.

   Bad Guy Guy, I’ve seen (and tweeted, oops, X’d) your work quite a few times.

   I think you should make a new book.

   So many people don’t know the underbelly of reality, but really do care. Always a fascinating glimpse into the past .

   I miss NY – at least the OLD NY. Sentimentality has gotten the best of me…

   thank you man, you are a part of American culture and history. Keep going!

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