In 1953, Pres. Eisenhower delivered a speech called Atoms for PeaceÓ to the U.N., in which he argued for the transformation of the atom from a weapon of war into a useful tool for civilization. People believed that there were unprecedented opportunities for peaceful nuclear applications. American scientists & engineers carried out the atoms for peaceÓ initiative at the nearly 200 research & test reactors built in the 1950s & 1960s. One of the most powerful reactors in the world was the Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, OH. From 1961 to 1973, this reactor was home to some of the most advanced nuclear experimentation in the U.S. Here is a visual history of the reactor, incl. numerous images & captions, a narrative history & selected primary documents.