| Date | Event |
| 1942 |
Creation of Manhattan Project |
| 1942 |
First nuclear chain reaction, University of Chicago |
| 1943 |
Los Alamos Laboratory Established |
| 1945 |
Trinity test, humankind's first nuclear explosion (21 kt) |
| 1945 |
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima (15 kt) and Nagasaki (21 kt), Japan; WW II ends |
| 1946 |
Operation Crossroads begins U.S. postwar atomic testing in Pacific |
| 1947 |
Atomic Energy Commission Established |
| 1949 |
First Soviet atomic test |
| 1951 |
Operation Ranger, first tests at newly established Nevada Proving Grounds |
| 1951 |
George, 1st U.S. thermonuclear test in Pacific (225 kt) |
| 1952 |
Livermore Laboratory established |
| 1953 |
1st Soviet thermonuclear test |
| 1954 |
Bravo, highest yield U.S. atmospheric test in Pacific (15 mt) |
| 1955 |
Groom Lake facility (Area 51) established northeast of Yucca Flat (NTS) |
| 1955 |
Rover/Nuclear Rocket Development Station |
| 1957 |
Hood, highest yield atmospheric test at NTS (74 kt) |
| 1957 |
First anti-nuclear protest at the NTS |
| 1957 |
Rainier, 1st contained underground test (1.7 kt) |
| 1958 |
Testing moratorium (Eisenhower administration) |
| 1961 |
Testing moratorium ends |
| 1962 |
Sedan test, Plowshare crater |
| 1963 |
Limited Test Ban Treaty bans atmospheric tests |
| 1964 |
Experimental (EPA) farm established |
| 1968 |
Boxcar, highest yield underground test (1.3 mt) |
| 1970 |
Baneberry test venting |
| 1970 |
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty |
| 1973 |
Rover Program ends |
| 1974 |
Threshold Test Ban Treaty signed |
| 1976 |
Peaceful Nuclear Explosions treaty signed |
| 1977 |
Department of Energy established |
| 1978 |
MX Missile testing program begins |
| 1979 |
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty signed |
| 1981 |
EPA Farm closed |
| 1982 |
Lenten (later Nevada) Desert Experience vigils begin |
| 1983 |
MX Missile program ends |
| 1988 |
Largest anti-nuclear protest at NTS |
| 1988 |
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty |
| 1988 |
U.S./U.S.S.R. joint verification tests |
| 1990 |
Threshold Test Ban and Peaceful Nuclear Explosions treaties ratified |
| 1990 |
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Passed |
| 1991 |
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty I signed |
| 1992 |
Divider, last U.S. nuclear test (less than 20 kt) |
| 1992 |
Testing moratorium (G.H.W. Bush administration) |
