Painting of the World’s First Nuclear Reactor as it Became Self-sustaining

Time: 3:22 p.m, December 2, 1942. Place: Racquets Court under West Stands of Stagg Field, University of Chicago. Photograph of an original painting by Gary Sheehan. Depicted is his version of the scene when scientist(s) observed the world’s first nuclear reactor (CP-1) as it became self-sustaining. No photographers were present. Fifteen years later the artist worked for nearly four months to reconstruct the mood and physical details of this historic event.

It comes from a series of photographs used to illustrate annual reports, research reports, and other publications showing the activities of the Atomic Energy Commission.