Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Todd Nickols and Associate Director Kristen Hollis on March 17 with the time capsule that will be buried beneath the Oppenheimer House on Bathtub Row. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Todd Nickols in Oppenheimer’s Office on March 17 in the Oppenheimer House on Bathtub Row. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
The Los Alamos Historical Society is creating a time capsule to be buried beneath the floor of the Oppenheimer House on Bathtub Row.
“When I was attending Mesa Elementary in the early 1970s, one of our teachers gave us a class project of creating a time capsule. I don’t remember if I was in Kindergarten with Mrs. (Rosemary) Benton or if it was when I was in third grade with Mrs. (Jean) Nereson,” Executive Director Todd Nickols recalled. “Either way, it was great fun working with my classmates, filling the metal box with important items of our day, During those years I was into collecting Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars and I’m sure I would have brought at least one car to include; in my young mind, of course people 50 or 100 years in the future would be interested in my collection. Other possible items to be included were a copy of the Los Alamos Monitor, a TV Guide, photographs of Los Alamos, a class photograph, maybe a $1 bill or some coins.”
He added, “I really don’t remember what all we included; I do remember the excitement of putting the time capsule together.”
Today is the perfect opportunity to bury a time capsule under the Oppenheimer House because the house is being restored. It was built in 1929 and has been in very poor condition. Cracks have lined the stone walls, the main joists have been sitting in the dirt deteriorating from moisture and termites for more than 20 years, and the electrical system was outdated, ungrounded and covered in cloth insulation.
“It must be accurately preserved, structurally stabilized, and capable of withstanding decades of public engagement,” Nickols said. “Once open to the public, it will welcome approximately 65,000 visitors annually.”
Thanks to generous support from Enterprise Bank & Trust and community members, work is underway that will preserve the historical home and integrate it into the History Museum campus.
“Two people in particular I want to thank are Liddie Martinez and Jim Lally of Enterprise Bank & Trust. Jim is the President and CEO of Enterprise Financial Services Corp, while Liddie is the Los Alamos Region President and Director of Community Engagement,” Nickols said. “Both are dedicated to Los Alamos history and continue to graciously support our Oppenheimer House project in many ways. Enterprise Bank & Trust generously stepped up in 2025, providing our lead financial gift matching contributions up to $125,000 yearly for four years. I want to thank our community again for their generous support in reaching our first year’s match!”
Lally spoke of the importance of restoring the Oppenheimer House.
“Enterprise Bank & Trust is proud to provide financial support for this project, which will help showcase this important landmark to the community for years to come,” he said. ”It’s a great opportunity to positively impact the Los Alamos community.”
Martinez added, “Our longstanding partnership with the Los Alamos Historical Society illustrates the successful model of local business support for our nonprofit community. It is an interwoven fabric of trust, shared vision, and community spirit. We are honored to lead in this historic renovation.”
“The partnership between the Society and Enterprise Bank & Trust is the longest-running collaboration in Los Alamos history,” Nickols said. “Because of the dedication and vision of early community members and the entrepreneurial spirit of the town’s first businesses, the board and staff of the Los Alamos Historical Society are proud to continue as stewards of the stories of the remarkable people who made this community so special. With Enterprise Bank & Trust’s continued leadership and financial support, we can share the history of Los Alamos with the world.”
Some of the items the time capsule will include are pictures of present-day Los Alamos, Voter Guides from the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos, items from the community such as a utility bill, a copy of the Los Alamos Daily Post newspaper, a few books published by the Society, public domain publications from Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Manhattan Project National Historical Park (MAPR), and a few items centered around the Oppenheimer feature film.
Los Alamos Historical Society Associate Director Kristen Hollis shared her thoughts on the time capsule endeavor, saying, “It’s been exciting imagining what future generations will discover about 2026 when they open this time capsule 50 or more years from now, these glimpses of our world. I wonder what they will think.”
Los Alamos Historical Society Associate Director Kristen Hollis on March 17 in May Connell’s bathroom, which was also the bathroom during the Oppenheimers’ time in the house on Bathtub Row. J. Connell built the house in 1929 for his sister, May. He had asked her to come teach art and music at the Ranch School. She came with the caveat that she would not live in a log cabin. He built her a more sophisticated home than the typical ranch school house. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
The bathroom area that was added on after the Manhattan Project. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
View of the dining room in the Oppenheimer House. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Location of the original bathroom inside the Oppenheimer House. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Looking through the removed floor of the dining room into the basement boiler room in the Oppenheimer House. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Todd Nickols shines a light in the rafters during a tour on March 17 of the Oppenheimer House on Bathtub Row. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Todd Nickols and Associate Director Kristen Hollis on March 17 in the living room of the Oppenheimer House. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Todd Nickols discusses the accessibility path that will be created for handicapped visitors. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Historical Society Executive Director Todd Nickols and Associate Director Kristen Hollis on March 17 in front of the Oppenheimer House on Bathtub Row. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com