Half-Life of Memory

America’s Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory

In the suburbs of Denver, the U.S. secretly manufactured thousands of atomic weapons, leaving behind a toxic legacy that will persist for generations. 

The Rocky Flats plant manufactured a staggering 70,000 atomic bombs, each serving as a “trigger” for thermonuclear warheads. Concealed by government secrecy, the plant’s fires, leaks, and illicit dumping of nuclear waste contaminated the Denver area with long-lived radioactive toxins.

A major—and highly visible—plutonium fire sparked a decade of mass protests, culminating in an unprecedented FBI raid that ultimately shuttered the plant.

After a multi-billion-dollar cap-and-cover effort, the Rocky Flats site was transitioned into a national wildlife refuge. “The Most Dangerous Buildings in America” lie under six feet of soil at the heart of the refuge, concealing a landscape still saturated with radioactive contamination. While state and federal officials claim the area is safe, many community members and experts strongly disagree.

Today, the radioactive legacy of Rocky Flats is invisible to the naked eye. New housing developments are engulfing areas known to be contaminated with radioactive plutonium. Thousands of former Rocky Flats workers have suffered devastating health issues from radiation exposure. Community members are investigating a potential link between Rocky Flats and troubling health reports in downwind neighborhoods. Ongoing lawsuits, deception, health concerns, and persistent contamination issues continue to plague Rocky Flats, yet the public is largely unaware of its past and its long-lived radioactive effects.

Through powerful testimonials and extraordinary archival media, Half-Life of Memory exposes Rocky Flats’ dark past and enduring impact, prompting critical reflection on the implications of the nation’s renewed nuclear weapons buildup.