Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Wilber A. Stevens was an army officer in charge of overseeing construction at Los Alamos. He helped choose the site where the Manhattan Project would test its first atomic bomb.

According to Robert W. Henderson, head of the Engineering Group in the Explosives Division, Stevens coined the name Trinity when the two were discussing the best way to transport the Jumbo device from the railroad. “A devout Roman Catholic, Stevens observed that the railroad siding was called ‘Pope’s Siding.’ He [then] remarked that the Pope had special access to the Trinity, and that the scientists would need all the help they could get to move the 214 ton Jumbo to its proper spot.”

Related Profiles

Robert B. Provine

Oak Ridge, TN

Robert J. Petrolli

Tinian Island

Robert J. Petrolli served as a 2nd lieutenant in the 393rd Bombardment Squadron. He was the navigator regularly assigned to the Laggin’ Dragon.

T. F. McVeigh

Oak Ridge, TN

T. F. McVeigh worked for the J.A. Jones Construction Company.

William C. Ward

Los Alamos, NM