The Eternal Flame Of Trinity

You may have seen films of the farmhouse being destroyed by the first atomic test, called Trinity, that took place in New Mexico in July 1945.

It is a strong visual, the atomic wind of the blast coming in like a monstrous and dry hand that overwhelms the quaint gingery structure of the American plains...  it is rather like Auntie Em and Uncle Henry - along with Dorothy, Hickory, and Hunk - being scooped up and flattened by the atomic tornado of Oz.

Although it appears to have been destroyed, it survived the initial shock and continues to burn even to this day. It is a mystery that far exceeds that of nearby Roswell, New Mexico.

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photo: (1) alex prager, (2) Life magazine