Westinghouse Atom Smasher
By Leepaxton at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Location:
Service Rd No 1, Pittsburgh, PA 15221
Description:
The Westinghouse Atom Smasher, located in Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, was a pioneering structure in the history of American nuclear research. Built in 1937 by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation, it was one of the first large-scale Van de Graaff generators designed for atomic energy experiments. Standing 65 feet tall with a distinctive pear-shaped dome mounted vertically on steel supports, the atom smasher was an iconic symbol of early 20th-century technological ambition. Architecturally, its dramatic, industrial form embodied the optimism of the Atomic Age before nuclear power had become a reality.
The facility played a critical role in early particle physics, contributing to the understanding of nuclear reactions and paving the way for advancements in atomic energy and medical technologies. While not a reactor itself, the atom smasher accelerated particles at high speeds and allowed scientists to study the results of their collisions with various materials. These experiments helped shape future nuclear research and development, including work on the Manhattan Project.
The structure was decommissioned in 1958, though it remained standing as a historic relic for decades. Despite efforts to preserve it, the building that housed it was demolished in 2015, and the atom smasher itself was toppled and moved to a storage location. Although no longer operational or displayed publicly, the Westinghouse Atom Smasher remains an important chapter in the history of American science and innovation.
