Resource Set Overall View of Plutonium (i.e., Building 771 1957 Fire in Building Building 371 National Register of “pit” Rocky Flats Plant trigger for nuclear 771 Historic Places bomb) Registration Form This photo shows This photo shows a View looking south at A worker in a radiation Aerial view looking Registration form scope of the Rocky typical plutonium Building 771 under suit points to where a north of Building 371 dated May 19, 1997. “pit.” Flats Plant in 1995 construction. Building fire occurred in after construction just before dismantling 771 was one of the Building 771 at Rocky completion. (11/7/78) The Rocky Flats Plant began. first four major Flats c. 1957. Property is significant buildings at the Rocky for its association with Flats Plant. Building events that have 771 was originally the made a significant primary facility for contribution to the plutonium operations. broad patterns of our (5/29/52) 20th century history. The Flats Plant Nuclear bomb Building 771, also The picture shows the This building is a This source contains a (6,240 acres) was part plutonium triggers known as Plant C, first large primary contributor of wealth of information of the nationwide (called were was one of the first conflagration at the the Rocky Flats Plant regarding the “pits”) nuclear weapons produced at Rocky four major buildings to Rocky Flats plant. historic district, and is significance of Rocky complex. It Flats between 1954 be constructed and This fire resulted in associated with the Flats, both as a manufactured and 1989. placed into operation the largest single U.S. strategy of military/industrial radioactive and at the plant. For the release of plutonium nuclear military complex and the metal first few years of the to the external deterrence during the clean-up of the site for parts, primarily for plant, Building 771 environment. Cold War, considered environmental nuclear weapons, was the primary of major importance in purposes. A complete from 1951 to 1989. facility for plutonium preventing Soviet history of the site and operations. These nuclear attack. its change over time is operations included Building 371 was included as well. the production of originally built to plutonium weapons replace plutonium Three to-scale maps components and recovery operations in illustrate the enormity
Resource Set Overall View of Rocky Flats Plant Plutonium “pit” (i.e., trigger for nuclear bomb) Building 771 1957 Fire in Building 771 Building 371 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This photo shows scope of the Rocky Flats Plant in 1995 just before dismantling began. This photo shows a typical plutonium “pit.” View looking south at Building 771 under construction. Building 771 was one of the first four major buildings at the Rocky Flats Plant. Building 771 was originally the primary facility for plutonium operations. (5/29/52) A worker in a radiation suit points to where a fire occurred in Building 771 at Rocky Flats c. 1957. Aerial view looking north of Building 371 after construction completion. (11/7/78) Registration form dated May 19, 1997. The Rocky Flats Plant Property is significant for its association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our 20th century history. The Flats Plant (6,240 acres) was part of the nationwide nuclear weapons complex. It manufactured radioactive and metal parts, primarily for nuclear weapons, from 1951 to 1989. Nuclear bomb plutonium triggers (called “pits”) were produced at Rocky Flats between 1954 and 1989. Building 771, also known as Plant C, was one of the first four major buildings to be constructed and placed into operation at the plant. For the first few years of the plant, Building 771 was the primary facility for plutonium operations. These operations included the production of plutonium weapons components and The picture shows the first large conflagration at the Rocky Flats plant. This fire resulted in the largest single release of plutonium to the external environment. This building is a primary contributor of the Rocky Flats Plant historic district, and is associated with the U.S. strategy of nuclear military deterrence during the Cold War, considered of major importance in preventing Soviet nuclear attack. Building 371 was originally built to replace plutonium recovery operations in This source contains a wealth of information regarding the significance of Rocky Flats, both as a military/industrial complex and the clean-up of the site for environmental purposes. A complete history of the site and its change over time is included as well. Three to-scale maps illustrate the enormity