For approximately 30 years the , safest method for transportation of this material was by rail. We begin our look at the history of the pantex plant with a look at the Railroad Museum were several cars once used by the plant are now on display. We are trying to preserve the rich Railroad History of the texas panhandle. Most of these towns would not be here if it was not for the coming of the railroad. We realized quick that railroads were evolving and changing. We were seeing new locomotives. We were seeing so many changes. We said we need to preserve some of that before it disappears. We incorporated as the amarillo Railroad Museum as that goal to preserve it. We bought this property here in the northeast part of amarillo, and it already at the Railroad Track on it. We have been keeping our eyes open for opportunities to acquire certain pieces of rolling stock. We were fortunate to get the cars from the formerly called white train, which was used for transporting Nuclear Weapons. We can display them so people can see these things that they would not be able to see anywhere else. Right here, this row of cars i have set up kind of in the way the white train used to operate. On the end is the escort coach with the raised car facing the cargo. That is the buffer car. The deal is by law people cannot ride into a car adjacent to explosives. That red car is the sole surviving of the armor plated cargo cars. Around 1980, the modified the train for protecting the Nuclear Weapons. That is the sole survivor. Now we are in the coppola of the escort coach. It is an elevated area. You can see it has bullet resistant glass around us. This is the security perch of where the careers would be couriers would be at all times. There would be at least two watching to make sure that there are not intruders trying to get on the train. In case that there would be any difficulties with anybody trying to get on the train, there are these gun portals here. They are blocked off right now. The couriers could use those if they needed to. Pantex today is the primary assembly and disassembly facility for Nuclear Weapons in the United States. The story of pantex begins in 1941 when the japanese attacked pearl harbor. That launched the u. S. Into world war ii. Prior to that we had many lend these programs with our future allies. Pantex is the primary plant to build 155 millimeter howitzer shells. We built conventional weapons during world war ii. Amarillo makes a great location to build one of these facilities. It is no accident. It exists because of the railroad. The railroad is hugely important for transporting goods during world war ii. It is the most reliable means of transportation. 1942, we dont have a national highway system. There is no easy way to move goods through the United States easily. The railroad becomes the means of transportation. One of the first things they do is they lay spurs off of the Main Railroad line so they can direct those. They are able to build pantex so quickly because they bring those materials from the railroad to where they are building. It goes right to where they are putting the load lines. The metal shells and any of the explosive materials they would transport via the railroad. Amarillo is a great place to build pantex. As well as the Amarillo Army airport. That is constructed in 1941. This is where the amarillo airport is today. Amarillo is an army plant. It is pretty efficient. Amarillo had a decent sized population. You are going to need workers. Pantex in 1943, we had over 5000 employees. All of those people need a place to live. Amarillo provided that, lots of Housing Options for people to live so that pantex could have the size of workforce it needed. Pantex throughout the cold war has a remarkably consistent mission. Our mission was to build and dismantle Nuclear Weapons. We become the primary Nuclear Weapons assembly and disassembly site in the United States. The shift in our mission is in 1991 when the first president bush gives his speech on unilateral dismantlement. The u. S. Will take it on itself to start dismantling some of its Nuclear Weapons stockpile. We now have an unparalleled opportunity to change the their posture of both the Nuclear Posture of both the United States and the soviet union. If we take the right steps, some on our own, some on their own, some together, we can dramatically shrink the arsenal of Nuclear Weapons and discourage the spread of Nuclear Weapons. You can rely more on defensive measures in our strategic relationship. Weekend and instability and we can enhance stability and reduce the possibility of nuclear war. The soviet union was coming to an end when president bush gives this speech. The soviet union still exists, but it is a few months later, and the soviet union falls. Once the cold war is over, we start to shift to dismantlement. Pantex still has a vital function dismantling our Nuclear Weapons stockpiles and figuring out how to dispose of certain materials within a nuclear weapon. Furthermore today, we are focused on life Extension Programs so we ensure that we have a reliable stockpile for the future. When we started building Nuclear Weapons back in the 1950s, we did not have a highway system. Most everything and everyone traveled more by train, by rail than by highway. In the meantime, to move the goods, these railcars were specially designed by Sandia National laboratories for caring Nuclear Weapons carrying Nuclear Weapons safely. We recently traveled to amarillo, texas, to learn more when we started building Nuclear Weapons back in the 1950s, we did not have a highway system. Most everything and everyone traveled more by train, by rail than by highway. In the meantime, to move the goods, these railcars were specially designed by Sandia National laboratories for caring carrying Nuclear Weapons safely. Our cities tour staff recently traveled to amarillo, texas, to learn more about its rich history. To learn more about amarillo and other stops on our tour, visit cspan. Org citiestour. You are watching history tv on cspan3. Each week, american artifacts takes you to museums and Historic Places to learn about american history. Next, we visit the trail of tears gallery at the National Museum of the American Indian in washington, d. C. , which looks at the National Debate over the 1830 indian removal act and its impact on southern tribes. Associate curator paul chaat smith led us through the gallery after an introduction in the americans exhibit, which examines how indian imagery is prevalent in products, toys and mascots. The exhibition is