Mound Museum
500 Vantage Point Miamisburg, OH 45342 MAP (Note: Google Maps shows incorrrect location)
PHONE: 937.847.2610
WEBSITE: moundmuseum.com
The Mound Museum preserves the history of the former Department of Energy Mound nuclear weapons plant in Miamisburg. Besides their weapons work, Mound scientists invited the radioisotope generator technology that powers all deep space probes beyond Mars and the lunar surface experiments that Apollo astronauts placed on the moon.
During World War II, the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb included secret work in Dayton to develop initiators for atom bombs. In 1946, the War Department’s Manhattan Engineering District began construction of a nuclear weapons complex on a hill overlooking Miamisburg next to the Miamisburg Mound, the tallest prehistoric native American mound in Ohio.
The complex became known as the Mound Site, Mound Plant, and Mound Laboratory. Mound scientists, engineers and technicians developed and produced detonators and explosives used in the initiators for nuclear weapons, regenerated tritium used in hydrogen bombs, and did other weapons-related work.
Mound researchers also played a pioneering role in American’s space program with the invention of the radioisotope power systems, or RTGs, which convert heat from a decaying radioactive isotope into electrical energy with no moving parts. Beginning with Pioneer 10 in 1972, radioisotope power systems have powered all the deep space probes beyond the orbit of Mars. Pioneer 10’s RTG powered the craft for more than 30s before its signal faded beyond detection in 2003. RTGs also powered experiments that Apollo astronauts placed on the moon.
With the end of the Cold War, the Department of Energy consolidated its nuclear programs and began decontaminating the 306-acre Mound site for reuse. The City of Miamisburg created the Miamisburg Mound Community Improvement Corp. to manage commercial development of the property as the Mound Advanced Technology Center. As the nuclear work was winding down, Mound retirees organized the Mound Museum to preserve the site’s history.
Hours
Tuesdays: 1 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. - noon
4th Wednesday: History program, 7 p.m.
Other times by appointment
Admission
Free.
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DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Note: Due to an error on Google Maps, the driving directions widget below is generally accurate and useful for calculating mileage, but it goes to the wrong location on the Mound site.
For Google Maps and GPS users, the correct coordinates are 39.633357,-84.286036. In this location, Vantage Point is incorrectly marked as Capstone Circle.
Directions from Interstate 75:
Take Exit 44, Hwy 725 West.
Go approximately three miles to Fifth Street; turn left (south).
Turn left on Mound Avenue to the Mound Advanced Technology Center main entrance (first entrance on right, marked by a large concrete sign). Go up the entrance drive and take the first right onto Vantage Point. The museum is at the top of the hill on the left; parking is on the right.
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