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Journeys of Discovery: Tennessee’s 'Secret City'

In the depths of World War II, top-secret labs were staffed around the clock to create a nuclear bomb. Oak Ridge in Tennessee, dubbed 'Secret City,' was built from scratch in a matter of months and became home to 75,000 Manhattan Project scientists and support personnel, including thousands of women. 

Following World War II, 'Secret City' evolved into the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and continues its mission working on scientific and defense-related projects. The town of Oak Ridge has evolved to become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, along with tourists who come to explore the town’s historic role in WWII. Correspondent Tom Wilmer reports from Oak Ridge, where he visits with Katy Jett, president of the Oak Ridge Visitors Bureau and historian Michael Stallo.

You are invited to subscribe to the Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel show podcast, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, featured on the NPR Podcast DirectoryApple PodcastiHeartRadio, the NPR One App & Stitcher.com. Twitter: TomCWilmer. Instagram: Thomas.Wilmer. Member of the National Press Club in Washington D.C. Underwriting support provided by the Society of St. Vincent De Paul.

Tom Wilmer produces on-air content for Issues & Ideas airing over KCBX and is producer and host of the six-time Lowell Thomas award-winning NPR podcast Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer. Recorded live on-location across America and around the world, the podcasts feature the arts, culture, music, nature, history, science, wine & spirits, brewpubs, and the culinary arts--everything from baseball to exploring South Pacific atolls to interviewing the real Santa Claus in the Arctic.
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