Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
26 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
26 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
26 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
26 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Westinghouse Atom Smasher

Westinghouse Atom Smasher

This icon of the Atomic Age now lays dormant.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Added By
AceofStace
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Remains of the atom smasher.   AceofStace / Atlas Obscura User
Remains of the atom smasher.   AceofStace / Atlas Obscura User
  AceofStace / Atlas Obscura User
Remains of the Atom Smasher.   seeabell / Atlas Obscura User
  AceofStace / Atlas Obscura User
  seeabell / Atlas Obscura User
  AceofStace / Atlas Obscura User
  seeabell / Atlas Obscura User
  AceofStace / Atlas Obscura User
Inside the shaft of the Atom Smasher, 2009   tomstrong / Atlas Obscura User
Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Pittsburgh, PA , 10/10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Pittsburgh, PA , 10/10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
  chasepopt / Atlas Obscura User
Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Pittsburgh, PA , 10/10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Westinghouse Atom Smasher   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
From 2013 when it was still standing   paulmatarrese / Atlas Obscura User
Westinghouse Atom Smasher, Pittsburgh, PA , 10/10/2021   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
  chasepopt / Atlas Obscura User
Taken in 2014   marilynbweber 7d31c9ab / Atlas Obscura User
  Elizabeth l / Atlas Obscura User
  Elizabeth l / Atlas Obscura User
Late November, 2022   obfuscott / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

This Place Is a Stub

Help improve this place with additional information or photos.

Make an Edit

About

The World's first industrial Van de Graaff Generator is lying on its side, abandoned but still intact, in Forest Hills, Pennsylvania. Built by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1937, “the atom smasher was the centerpiece of the first large-scale program in nuclear physics established in industry,” according to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).  It remained in use until 1958. In 2015, the bulb was taken off of its pedestal and laid on its side in hopes that someone will eventually restore it. It is a symbol of Westinghouse's early involvement in nuclear power, but also the fleeting nature of our technological work.

 

Related Tags

Nuclear Energy Physics

Know Before You Go

You can easily view and photograph the atom smasher from outside the chain-link fence, but it's pretty clear that no trespassing is allowed.

Community Contributors

Added By

AceofStace

Edited By

paulmatarrese, Keri Kilgo, tomstrong, seeabell...

  • paulmatarrese
  • Keri Kilgo
  • tomstrong
  • seeabell
  • chasepopt
  • blimpcaptain
  • marilynbweber 7d31c9ab
  • hilreaps
  • obfuscott
  • Elizabeth l

Published

May 26, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Atom_Smasher
  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/strange-story-westinghouse-atom-smasher-180961515/
  • https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/strange-story-westinghouse-atom-smasher-180961515/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Atom_Smasher
Westinghouse Atom Smasher
386-398 Avenue A
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15221
United States
40.411614, -79.843369
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Joe Magarac Statue

Braddock, Pennsylvania

miles away

The Blue Whale of Noah's Ark

West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

miles away

Trundle Manor: House of Oddities

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

Places 61
Stories 5

Nearby Places

Joe Magarac Statue

Braddock, Pennsylvania

miles away

The Blue Whale of Noah's Ark

West Mifflin, Pennsylvania

miles away

Trundle Manor: House of Oddities

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

Places 61
Stories 5

Related Places

  • Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant

    Shoreham, New York

    Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant

    The first commercial nuclear power plant constructed on Long Island.

  • Orlando Towers

    Soweto, South Africa

    Orlando Towers

    Two giant painted cooling towers make for one of the world’s most epic bungee jumps.

  • Constructing the nuclear reactor.

    Greenland

    Camp Century (Project Iceworm)

    A Cold War atomic camp buried under the ice is now emerging because of global warming.

  • Is the tree in the way of the shop, or was the shop built in the way of tree?

    Monterrey, Mexico

    The Tree Growing Inside a 7-Eleven

    This store may be part of a well-known chain, but it stands out due to the tree growing through the middle of it.

  • Three Mile Island nuclear power plant.

    Middletown, Pennsylvania

    Three Mile Island Historical Marker

    On the outskirts of Pennsylvania’s capital city, a reminder of the worst accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history.

  • A display at the Gasworks Museum.

    Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland

    The Gasworks Museum

    Former coal-powered facility turned museum.

  • Main building

    Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal

    Geographical Institute of the University of Porto

    A seismograph and a bunker from the Cold War still sit under this university building.

  • Ob Hill as seen from Hut Point Peninsula, with penguins.

    McMurdo Station, Antarctica

    Observation Hill

    The steep slope known as “Ob Hill” overlooks an Antarctic research station.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.