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Started By
Message
Can posters from South Mississippi tell us about the nuke explosions there in 1964 & '66?
Posted on 10/22/25 at 7:34 pm
Posted on 10/22/25 at 7:34 pm
It was on this date, October 22, in 1964 when the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission tested a nuke near Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
It was called Project Salmon and the nuke was detonated 2,700 feet below the surface followed by another test, Project Sterling, on December 3, 1966.
The Salmon bomb is shown below before it was lowered into its bore hole.
I'd like to hear from anyone who lived near the test site about your experiences with the tests. Or, from hearing about it from your relatives who lived there at the time.
From what I read nearby homes were damaged from the blasts as the explosions caused mini-earthquakes in the immediate area.
I'd never heard about this until today when I went down a rabbit hole reading about nuclear tests on U.S. soil.
It was called Project Salmon and the nuke was detonated 2,700 feet below the surface followed by another test, Project Sterling, on December 3, 1966.
The Salmon bomb is shown below before it was lowered into its bore hole.
I'd like to hear from anyone who lived near the test site about your experiences with the tests. Or, from hearing about it from your relatives who lived there at the time.
From what I read nearby homes were damaged from the blasts as the explosions caused mini-earthquakes in the immediate area.
I'd never heard about this until today when I went down a rabbit hole reading about nuclear tests on U.S. soil.
7
Posted on 10/22/25 at 7:38 pm to LSURussian
Didn't the Army test nuke artillery shells near Anniston, AL?
Posted on 10/22/25 at 7:40 pm to LSURussian
I have been intending to go down and check out this site….i believe there is some kind of marker at the road. I have never known anyone from that area.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 7:47 pm to Spankum
There was a thread about it years ago. I think someone posted a pic of the marker.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 7:50 pm to LSURussian
Paw said they was a bit of shakin’ at the time. House always had a few cracks in it, so who knows.
Baby brother came out a bit slow, but we reckon it was related to maw’s drankin.
Baby brother came out a bit slow, but we reckon it was related to maw’s drankin.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 8:31 pm to SoFla Tideroller
Doubt that, but there were lots of chemical weapons stored there at Fort McClellan. They had an alarm system and protocol set up to warn residents in case an accident happened.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 9:47 pm to Bullfrog
quote:Correct, I remember reading that thread and recall the location is BFE somewhere around Hattiesburg.
There was a thread about it years ago. I think someone posted a pic of the marker.
Also there is like a concrete cap or slab over the drill hole, as I recall and some “Danger” signage, I think?
ETA: a recent pic of the site from the interwebz-
It’s near Baxterville, MS in Lamar County
This post was edited on 10/22/25 at 10:04 pm
Posted on 10/22/25 at 9:48 pm to LSURussian
There’s still a live one somewhere right off the coast of Georgia I believe.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 9:54 pm to LSURussian
Heard some old timers at bar talking about project cowboy detonating some nuclear testing in the quarry in Winnfield.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 10:09 pm to soccerfüt
Baxterville is the community where the bombs were tested. Referred to as the Tatum Salt Dome tests. Two nuclear bomb tests in underground salt domes, for some undetermined reason. Federal cleanup began in the early 70's.
Locals refer to it as Razorback Ridge. Country as a biscuit, and any chance of nuclear contamination might've straightened out some cross-eyed rapscallions.
Locals refer to it as Razorback Ridge. Country as a biscuit, and any chance of nuclear contamination might've straightened out some cross-eyed rapscallions.
Posted on 10/22/25 at 10:20 pm to SoFla Tideroller
quote:
Didn't the Army test nuke artillery shells near Anniston, AL?
quote:
The only known U.S. Army nuclear artillery test occurred on May 25, 1953, at the Nevada Test Site as part of Operation Upshot–Knothole. During this test, an M65 “Atomic Annie” 280mm cannon fired a W9 nuclear artillery shell, yielding 15 kilotons of TNT. This was the sole live-fire test of a nuclear artillery shell by the U.S. military
Posted on 10/22/25 at 10:32 pm to LSURussian
This was the furthest east any test was conducted
Posted on 10/22/25 at 10:32 pm to 1BamaRTR
Okee doke
Posted on 10/22/25 at 10:56 pm to SloaneRanger
If the general public knew what was in there…They’d shite their pants
Posted on 10/22/25 at 11:19 pm to Dandaman
Thanks to everyone who replied. 
Posted on 10/23/25 at 5:11 am to LSURussian
My favorite camping spot when I lived in CO was near the project rulison site. I read up a lot on the plowshare program at that time. Interesting project.
Posted on 10/23/25 at 5:43 am to Bill Parker?
I read about it years ago. If I remember correctly, this was at the time where the US and Ussr were signing treaties eliminating above ground testing and limiting the power of the bombs tested. The US, being concerned about Russian cheating , wanted to set off a bomb within a cavern created by a bomb, to see how much the cavern muffled the actual power of the blast. The first bomb set off in Mississippi created the cavern. The second smaller bomb was set off in the cavern.
Posted on 10/23/25 at 5:55 am to OptionRight
quote:
If the general public knew what was in there…They’d shite their pants
I was there for a bit, the stories some of chem guys told seemed unbelievable at the time. Then you get older and do some research and they weren’t all that far fetched.
Posted on 10/23/25 at 6:05 am to soccerfüt
“Dr. E Rectin” 
Posted on 10/23/25 at 6:35 am to Havoc
quote:
Havoc
Glad I didn't have to be "that guy", thanks brother!
What a name, man. No way that was an organic occurrence.
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