Valerie Higgins

It was in August 1972 that Fermilab published its first experimental results.

July brought Fermilab three new directors, two discovery announcements and one big, red ring.

It was in June that National Accelerator Laboratory employees first showed up to work and that Leon Lederman became the lab’s second director.

It was in May that the lab received the name Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, during a dedication attended by Laura Fermi.

Plans for a new accelerator laboratory began in April 1963. Subsequent Aprils brought the completion of the Central Laboratory Building and the installation of the final Main Ring magnet.

On March 1, 1972, the accelerator reached its 200-GeV design energy.

In March, Fermilab saw the installation of its final Tevatron magnet, the start of MINOS and Tevatron Run II operations, and the groundbreaking for the Main Injector. Read on for more March milestones.

On February 28, 1967, Robert R. Wilson became the director of the National Accelerator Laboratory.

As we enter the second month of Fermilab’s 50th year, we look back on Robert Wilson assuming the lab’s first directorship and revisit the lab’s first experiment, along with other memorable milestones.

Fermilab’s beginnings can be traced to a 1963 report by a panel of U.S. scientists led by Norman Ramsey. In the 50 years since, Fermilab has grown to a laboratory of 1,800 employees, and scientists from 44 countries come to Fermilab to participate in its forefront particle physics programs.