Trinity Site, Owl Cafe & Bar, New Mexico

Passing through San Antonio, New Mexico I had to have a famous green chili cheeseburger and see Trinity Site.

Okay, I have a confession- I didn’t actually make it to the Trinity site in New Mexico, but I did have an excellent green chili cheeseburger.

Trinity Site in actually only open two days a year to the public and my trip through central New Mexico (destination Alamogordo) with the family fell two weeks before the scheduled “open house”. I am however, going to go ahead and count that I came close enough to the site to record it on the blog because I believe close enough is good enough when it comes to radiation and the nuclear bomb.

July 16, 1945 ushered in a whole new era of consequence when the world’s first atomic bomb was detonated at Trinity Site on the extreme northern end of White Sands Missile Range in central New Mexico. Today, they say Trinity Site is a mildly radioactive blight in the middle of nowhere only few of the general public have seen. In fact, there supposedly are only a few witnesses of the detonation of the atomic bomb back in 1945. Sure windows were blown out in Socorro over a hundred miles away and the ground supposedly shook in Albuquerque but few actually saw the mushroom firsthand.

Well, there is a small historical note of interest: the Owl Café and Bar in San Antonio, New Mexico. Supposedly, the scientists who worked on the first atom bomb loved coming to the small restaurant and ordering (what is now the famous green chili cheeseburger). On the day before the first atomic detonation the scientist told the owners of the Owl Café to be outside at 5am the next day but didn’t tell them why. Faithful to the directions the staff of the little café were among the only witnesses to the first atomic blast.

Somewhere South of Carrizozo

March 14, 2010-- South of Carrizozo, New Mexico along SR-54 while traveling to Three Rivers Petroglyph site I spotted a handful of archaeologists digging along the highway. After stopping and asking the crew what they were doing they gave me and my family a quick tour of a dig they have been working on. 

To the North of the site, construction crews are beginning work on a massive undertaking to expand the highway to four lanes and soon the entire site will be covered by "progress". 

The archaeologists, from the State Archeology Office in Sante Fe, have been hard at work for nearly nine months frantically digging and recording the remnants of an ancient culture.

Thanks to those working on the site to take the time to show the foundations and evidences they've unearthed. I certainly will have a greater reverence and sadness as I travel the future road having had a glimpse of what lies beneath. 

Three Rivers Petroglyph Site

March 14, 2010-- 28 miles south of Carrizozo, New Mexico on U.S. Highway 54 lies one of the most prolific collections of petroglyphs in the United States.

According to the Buruea of Land Management, "More than 21,000 glyphs of birds, humans, animals, fish, insects and plants, as well as numerous geometric and abstract designs are scattered over 50 acres of New Mexico's northern Chihuahuan Desert. The petroglyphs at Three Rivers, dating back to between about 900 and 1400 AD, were created by Jornada Mogollon people who used stone tools to remove the dark patina on the exterior of the rock."

An easy half-mile trail beginning at a small visitor shelter gives visitors access to many of the most interesting petroglyphs which include; faces, animals and geometric shapes and symbols. 

Three Rivers is an incredible experience where your imagination runs wild as you try to find meaning and enjoy the vistas of Lincoln National Forest in the distance.

A rugged half-mile trail begins at the visitor shelter and links many of the most interesting petroglyphs.