A Brief History
A view of Stagg Field looking to the east. The west stands housing Chicago Pile 1 can be seen in the lower part of the picture. The Henry Crown Field House (still standing) can be seen to the upper left (northeast) in the picture.
You are standing on what was the original site of Stagg Field. The west viewing-stands were located here with a squash court located underneath. This is where Chicago Pile 1, the world’s first artificial nuclear reactor was built and the first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction took place at 3:36 pm on December 2, 1942. This experiment was witnessed by 49 scientists under the direction of Enrico Fermi.
Chicago Pile 1 Drawing - United States Department of Energy
Below are some short videos for a little more in depth description of what happened here for those who would like a little more history.
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Chicago Pile-1: A Brick History
by Argonne National Laboratory
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Archive Dive with Shermann "Dilla" Thomas: Chicago Pile-1
by Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
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Argonne nuclear pioneers: Chicago Pile 1
by Argonne National Laboratory
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The Science
Uranium atoms naturally expel neutrons over time. The nuclear reactor works by arranging pieces of uranium in such a way that the expelled neutrons will hit other pieces of uranium in just the right way to split them and throw off more neutrons in a chain reaction. Everything needs to be positioned just right to keep the reaction going. Rods of a neutron absorbant material are inserted or removed to control the speed of the reaction or to stop it entirely.
The Artwork
Henry Moore was commissioned to produce a bronze sculpture and "Nuclear Energy" was unveiled 25 years later to commemorate this historic event.
"When I had made this working model I showed it to them and they liked my idea because the top of it is like some large mushroom, or a kind of mushroom cloud. Also it has a kind of head shape like the top of the skull but down below is more an architectural cathedral. One might think of the lower part of it being a protective form and constructed for human beings and the top being more like the idea of the destructive side of the atom. So between the two it might express to people in a symbolic way the whole event."
(Henry Moore quoted in Art Journal, New York, Spring 1973, p.286)
Logging Requirements
Please take a picture of yourself, geocaching token, or piece of paper with your caching name on it with either the sculpture "Nuclear Energy" or the commemorative plaque in the background. Upload your picture with your found log. Your face does not need to be visible, but should provide proof of your visit. Logs without this requirement or reference to a group photo will be deleted.
References:
Argonne National Laboratory
Chuckman Chicago Nostalgia
The University of Chicago
University of Chicago Office of Communications
US Department of Energy - Office of Nuclear Energy
Wikipedia - Stagg Field
Wikipedia - Nuclear Energy (Sculpture)
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.