Historical Marker

Marjorie Bell Chambers and Peggy Pond Church (1903-1986)

Historical marker location:
NM Highway 502, Los Alamos, New Mexico
( in Los Alamos near Ashley Pond)

Side 1
Marjorie Bell Chambers advised Governors and Presidents, participated in the formation of The United Nations, and headed two women's colleges. She was president of the Los Alamos Girl Scouts, a founding member of the Historical Society and a project historian of the US Atomic Energy Commission for Los Alamos. She served on the County Council, campaigned for Congress, and traveled worldwide advocating for women's rights.
Side 2
Peggy Pond Church, author of the Southwest classic The House at Otowi Bridge and daughter of Los Alamos Ranch School founder Ashley Pond, will forever be “The First Lady of New Mexican Poetry.” As she rode the Pajarito Plateau and camped beneath tall pines, she came to understand that “it is the land that wants to be said.” She captured it in her sensitive poems

The Historic Women Marker Initiative of 2007 captured the public’s imagination. It has received international attention for its ambitious goal of telling women’s history in New Mexico on some of the state’s 650 Official Scenic Historic Markers. Before 2007, perhaps three markers mentioned women at all.

The lives of the only known female Buffalo solider, one of the world’s most famous artists, and unsung heroes like Sally Rooke who gave her life at her switchboard warning Folsom’s citizens of a wall of water approaching their town are honored on 75 women’s history markers.

The first phase of the Initiative concluded in 2010. Ten more markers were installed in 2015 and an additional 25 are expected to bring their numbers to an even 100 in the coming years. The program is a partnership of the New Mexico Women’s Forum, HPD, CPRC, New Mexico Department of Transportation, and the public. The 2006 legislature made the initial 65 historic markers possible.

Like all state historic markers, the women’s history markers are designed in the Park Service Rustic style adopted when the program began in 1935. What’s different is their perspective of New Mexico history.

New Mexico is a land of rhythm.
Ruth Laughlin in New Mexico Magazine
Los Alamos County is located in the northern part of New Mexico and is known primarily for being the site of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The history of Los Alamos County dates back thousands of years to the native Pueblo people who inhabited the area. The Pueblo people built settlements and farmed the land until the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. The Spanish established several missions, but these were abandoned by the late 17th century due to conflict with neighboring Native American tribes.

In the late 19th century, the region saw an influx of Anglo settlers and became a popular destination for ranching and mining. In 1917, the Los Alamos Ranch School was established as an educational institution for boys. The school brought prominence to the region and attracted families from across the country.

The turning point in the history of Los Alamos County came in 1942, during World War II, when the U.S. government selected the area to be the site of the top-secret Manhattan Project. The Los Alamos National Laboratory was built to develop the atomic bomb, and thousands of scientists, engineers, and other personnel were brought to the region. The development and testing of the atomic bomb had a profound impact on the community, forever shaping the legacy of Los Alamos County.

After the war, Los Alamos National Laboratory continued to be a major research and development center, attracting scientists from around the world. Today, Los Alamos County is known for its scientific research, high-tech industry, and natural beauty. It remains a tight-knit community with a unique and complex history that is deeply intertwined with the atomic age.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Los Alamos County, New Mexico.

  • 1942 - Los Alamos County is established as part of the Manhattan Project.
  • 1943 - Los Alamos Ranch School is taken over by the US Army to accommodate the Manhattan Project.
  • 1945 - The first atomic bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy," is tested at the Trinity Site near Los Alamos.
  • 1947 - Los Alamos County becomes an official county in the state of New Mexico.
  • 1956 - Los Alamos National Laboratory is officially designated as a government-owned, contractor-operated facility.
  • 1970 - The population of Los Alamos County reaches its peak with over 19,000 residents.
  • 2000 - Cerro Grande Fire devastates Los Alamos, destroying hundreds of homes and over 48,000 acres of land.
  • 2010 - Los Alamos County celebrates its 100th anniversary since its establishment.