pantex is the primary plant to imeter howitzer shells. we built conventional weapons during world war ii. amarillo makes a great location to build one of these facilities. it is no accident. it exists because of the railroad. the railroad is hugely important for transporting goods during world war ii. it is the most reliable means of transportation. 1942, we don't have a national highway system. there is no easy way to move good. ods through the united states easily. one of the first things they do is they lay spurs off of the main railroad line so they can direct those. pantex soble to build quickly because they bring those materials from the railroad to where they are building. where they areo putting the load lines. and any of thes explosive materials they would railroad.yovia the amarillo is a great place to build pantex. as well as the amarillo army airport. that is constructed in 1941. is where the amarillo airport is today. y plant. is an arm it is pretty efficient. amarillo had a decent sized population. you are going to need work

pantex throughout the cold war has a remarkably consistent mission. our mission was to build and dismantle nuclear weapons. we've become since 1975 the primary nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly site in the united states. the next mission shift for us is in 1991 when the first president bush gives his speech on unilateral dismantlement. the united states would take it upon itself to start dismantling some of its nuclear weapons stockpile. >> we now have an unparalleled opportunity to change the nuclear posture of both the united states and the soviet union. if we and the soviet leaders take the right steps, some on our own, some on their own, some together, we can dramatically shrink the arsenal of nuclear weapons. we can more effectively discourage the spread of nuclear weapons. you can rely more on defensive measures in our strategic relationship. we can enhance stability and risk of reduce the nuclear war. now is the time to seize this opportunity. katie: the soviet union was sort of coming to an end when president bush gives this speech. the

so pentax pantex still has a vital function. furthermore, today, we're focused on life extension programs, so that we ensure that we have a safe, reliable stockpile for the future, for the united states to be a credible nuclear deterrent. >> when we started building nuclear weapons back in the 1950s we did not have a highway system. there was not a highway system in this country so almost everyone and everything traveled more by train -- by rail than by highway. in the meantime to move the goods, these rail cars were especially designed by national laboratories for carrying nuclear weapons safely. >> our cities tour staff recently traveled to amarillo, texas to learn about its rich history. to watch more video and other stops on our tour visit c-span.org/citiestour. irewatching american history tv, all weekend, every weekend we join the program as hugh hewitt talks about renovations to the east room west event space in the museum in yorba linda, california. >> true to form, with any

pantex, at the height of our employment in 1943, we had over 5000 employees. all of those people needed a place to live. amarillo being so close provided that. a lot of housing options for people to live so that pantex could have the size of the workforce it needed to complete our world war ii mission. war,x, throughout the cold had a remarkably consistent mission. our mission was to build and dismantle nuclear weapons. since 1970 five the primary weapons assembly site in the united states. us isxt mission shift for in 1991 when the first president bush gives his speech on unilateral dismantlement. of the united states would take it upon itself to start dismantling some of its nuclear weapons stockpile. >> we now have an unparalleled opportunity to change the nuclear posture of both the united states and the soviet union. if we and the soviet leaders take the right steps, some on our own, some on their own, some together, we can dramatically shrink the arsenal of the world's nuclear weapons. we can more effectively discourage the spread of nuclear weapons. we

the pantex plant in texas is the final facility

. >> the pantex plant in amarillo is the nation's final facility nuclearmaintenance of weapons. for approximately 30 years, the safest method for the transportation of this material was by rail. we begin our look at the history tex with a visit to the embryo railroad museum were several cars once used by the plant are now on display. amarillo railroad museum where several cars once used by the plant are now on display. >> we are trying to preserve the rich railrd

. >> the pantex plant in texas is the final facility for dismantling and maintenance of nuclear weapons