The Atomium Opens in Brussels

Setting the scene

Belgium hosted Expo 58 in Brussels to celebrate postwar recovery and the atomic age; engineer André Waterkeyn designed a 102-meter model of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, clad in aluminum spheres linked by tubes visitors could traverse.

What happened

The Atomium opened for Expo 58 in Brussels, offering escalators through nine iron spheres and exhibitions on science and Belgian industry.

Why it still matters

Nine iron spheres linked like a unit cell became Belgium's most photographed landmark; renovations in the 2000s restored the spheres' shine and added event spaces, turning a temporary fair pavilion into permanent national branding.

Background

Nine iron spheres linked like a unit cell.