McDonald Ranch House, Historic ranch house at Trinity Site, New Mexico
The McDonald Ranch House is an adobe structure located at Trinity Site in New Mexico, featuring thick earthen walls and a simple rectangular layout. The building was constructed as a functional residence using traditional construction methods typical of the region during the early 1900s.
The house was built in 1913 as a simple dwelling for a ranching family on the property. In 1945, it took on a different purpose when scientists working on a secret project temporarily used rooms inside for technical work.
The house bridges the gap between the quiet ranching life that existed in New Mexico and the secret scientific work that unfolded within its walls during the war. Walking through the rooms, visitors sense how these two different worlds occupied the same space.
The house opens just twice a year for public tours, typically in spring and fall months when temperatures are more comfortable. Visitors should check dates in advance and prepare for desert conditions with appropriate clothing and sun protection.
One room on the northeast side of the house was used for technical preparation work before a major event took place just a couple miles away. The building still bears marks from that intense period when ordinary ranch structures became temporary laboratories.
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