First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, Site of
Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.




The record
| Property type | Site |
| Address | S. Ellis Ave. between E. 56th and 57th Sts., Chicago, IL |
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Science |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | The Enrico Fermi Memorial |
| Reference number | 66000314 |
| Type of place | atomic pile |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, Chicago Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 site |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | S. Ellis Ave. between E. 56th and 57th Sts., Chicago, IL |
| Coordinates | 41.7925° N, 87.6011° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Chicago | 419 listed places in Chicago → · walking tours → |
| Nearest national park unit | Pullman National Historical Park · 7 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | West Beach Picnic Shelters 23 miles · Chellberg Farm Picnic Shelters 29 miles · Dunbar Group Site 32 miles |
Explore
Map
Nearby in Cook County
Local history books for Chicago
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Illinois
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, Site of listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Where is First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, Site of?
S. Ellis Ave. between E. 56th and 57th Sts., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. The nearest national park unit is Pullman National Historical Park, 7 miles away.
Source: Pullman National Historical Park
Where is the nomination form for First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, Site of?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, Site of?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is West Beach Picnic Shelters, 23 miles away. Chellberg Farm Picnic Shelters is 29 miles away, and Dunbar Group Site is 32 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, Site of?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000314. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place.