By GEORGIA STRICKFADEN
Los Alamos

Our summer tourist season is in full swing, yet ALL of our Historic Walking Tour signs have been missing for months, mostly due to construction of the new Urban Trail and pending refurbishment of the walking tour signs?

Old or bent signs are better than no markers. Even if visitors are using printed or online walking tour guides, it often is not entirely clear to them where they are and why.

I am especially disturbed that there is no sign of any kind of labeling for the statues of Oppenheimer and Groves. The damaged bronze sign was removed months ago with no temporary replacement anywhere to be seen. As a tour professional, I assure you that we cannot assume visitors know who those “dudes” are, and what their significance is to Los Alamos. I would propose returning the bent but still readable bronze sign to its concrete base in front of the statues until a more permanent solution is in place. A bent sign is better than no sign.

The statues were placed as a cooperative effort by the Art in Public Places Advisory Board, the Historical Society, and the Historical Preservation Advisory Board, with approved funding by Los Alamos County Council. Descendants of both J. Robert Oppenheimer and Gen. Leslie R. Groves were present for the dedication of the statues on May 19, 2011. The text on the bronze plaque identifies the “dudes”, and reads, “In 1943, in the former Los Alamos Ranch School buildings at this location, a joint military and civilian laboratory was established. A mere 28 months later, the men and women of Los Alamos had conceived, designed, developed, built, tested, and fielded the world’s first Atomic Bombs.”

I have been informed that the new signs indeed arrived a few weeks ago, but will not be installed until August due to staff maxed out supporting summer activities like ScienceFest, concerts, etc. Oh well, our busy fall tourist season is still to come. Maybe Council should consider funding more help with above average salaries to populate the Parks Department, especially in the summer.