This handbook includes a short history of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, operations at the plant, the community of Oak Ridge, and short summaries of the Area Offices. Oak Ridge was built starting in late 1942. During World War II all concentration was focused on creating a weapon out of a nuclear reaction. After the war Oak Ridge continued to focus on research and development but for energy creation. It was officially shut down in 1963 and is now a National Historic Landmark.