Breaking Bad

22. National Atomic Museum

Albuquerque, NM

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Considering Walt’s affinity for science, The National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque is an apt meeting place in Season 2 for Walt and Jesse to perpetuate their empire. But Vince Gilligan’s inclusion of the museum in Breaking Bad is no doubt a symbolic one as well. Just as Walt sees cooking and selling meth as a way to provide for his family, so too did America see the atomic bomb as a way to save lives during WWII. But just as the atomic bomb destroyed countless lives in WWII and beyond so too has meth in more contemporary times, and the blue stuff utterly consumes Walt in Breaking Bad. New Mexico, and more specifically Los Alamos, was the birthplace of the atomic bomb and the National Atomic Museum, now called the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History serves “as America’s resource for nuclear history and science” according to the museum’s mission statement. The museum showcases exhibits and provides educational programs that highlight the diversity of the people and events that have shaped the history of the atomic age. In Season 2 of Breaking Bad, when Jesse is in hiding after being mistaken on the streets as Spooge’s murderer, Walt uses the National Atomic Museum to exchange money and meth with Badger, Combo, and Skinny Pete. Prior to meeting with the three street dealers mentioned above Skinny Pete was the only one among Jesse’s friends to meet “Heisenberg.” Later, Jesse meets his friends at the museum to inform them that the “game’s changed, yo” telling them that they can sell meth with impunity due to his faux street cred and that they will all be drug lords. The National Atomic Museum where the scenes in which Walt and Jesse meet their underlings is located here. If you want to visit the National Atomic of Nuclear Science & History in its new location it is located at 601 Eubank, Albuquerque, NM 87123. Photo Credit: japanfocus.org