Secrets of Shangri-La Exhibit on Enlisted Women Opens with March 10 Lecture

Fuller Lodge will host a 7 p.m. lecture on March 10, 2026 that opens the Los Alamos History Museum’s new special exhibit Secrets of Shangri‑La: Enlisted Women at Project Y, an installation that highlights the role of enlisted women stationed in Los Alamos during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project. The museum announced the exhibit opening and said the display will be available for viewing immediately following the program.

Staff from the Los Alamos Historical Society Archives and Collections are scheduled to present the March 10 lecture at Fuller Lodge. Katy Jones‑Gulsby, Archivist at the Los Alamos Historical Society, provided archival context for the exhibit: “The Los Alamos Historical Society Archives and Collections are so lucky to be the stewards of many collections from the families of these brave and dedicated women,” and “Material from enlisted women and their experiences in Los Alamos during the war make up one of the most exciting broader collections in the archives, and we are excited to share more of that material with our visitors.”

The Los Alamos History Museum framed the exhibit as corrective history, describing Secrets of Shangri‑la as a project that “explores the often-overlooked contributions of enlisted women who served in Los Alamos during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project.” The museum’s announcement adds that “Secrets of Shangri-la invites visitors to see Project Y through a wider lens- one that honors not only groundbreaking scientific achievement, but also the courage, professionalism, and resilience of the enlisted women who helped sustain it.”

The lecture is part of the Los Alamos Historical Society’s 2025–2026 Lecture Series; the Historical Society’s announcement thanks Enterprise Bank and Trust by name for sponsorship. “The Los Alamos Historical Society extends its sincere appreciation to Enterprise Bank and Trust for their generous sponsorship of the 2025–2026 Lecture Series and for their ongoing commitment to the programs and initiatives of the Historical Society,” the announcement states. The Historical Society also noted that lectures can be viewed online via the Los Alamos Historical Society YouTube Channel for those who cannot attend Fuller Lodge in person.

For residents interested in Manhattan Project history and women’s military history, the Los Alamos History Museum and the Historical Society have scheduled the exhibit opening to follow the March 10 program at Fuller Lodge, with the new display available for immediate viewing. “We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you on March 10!”