Among the stories of those who came to Las Vegas in the 1960s to work at the Nevada Test Site is that of Leslie Dunn and his wife Joan. Leslie had been hired by the U.S. Public Health Service to monitor radiation from the explosions. He has tales flying into craters that make you wide-eyed. This assignment would last until his “retirement” in 1983 – one can’t really describe this couple as retired. During these early years, while Les pursued his scientist career, Joan’s chief focus was on raising their three children, Bruce Dunn, Loryn Dunn Arkow, and Sharon Dunn Levin. She also completed her education in accounting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She was involved with Equal Right Amendment efforts and League of Women Voters. The couple were only in their forties when Les left the PHS. As he looked forward to new opportunities, he felt compelled to pursue his longtime dream to become a builder, something he had dabbled at as a youngster with his father, Jack Dunn. Together, he an
Black and white image of the completed gravel testing laboratory at the site of the former Stewart Ranch, also known as the Las Vegas Ranch. Site Name: Las Vegas Ranch (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Looking down at the Colorado River near the Hoover Dam construction site where you can see many construction-related structures like bridges. Site Name: Hoover Dam (dam)
52 x 46 cm. "Map no. 23000." Shows reservoir sites, irrigated areas, power plants, power sites, dam sites, national parks or monuments, and diversion from basin. Colorado River Basin/Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation; John H. Pellen, chief draftsman. Original publisher: United States. Bureau of Reclamation.