The National Atomic Testing Museum has announced it will bring history, gaming and pop culture together during a featured panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 24, exploring how Fallout, one of the world’s most iconic video game franchises, became the inspiration for an innovative museum experience. Hosted by the National Atomic Testing Museum in partnership with Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), the discussion will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. and offer attendees an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation and future of the museum’s acclaimed “World of Fallout” exhibit. The panel will take place in Room 9 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Titled “Making the World of Fallout at the Atomic Museum,” the panel will examine how authentic Cold War history inspired the Fallout universe and how that fictional world, in turn, has inspired new audiences to engage with real history. Representatives from the National Atomic Testing Museum, Bethesda Game Studios, and UNLV will share how they transformed an ambitious idea into an exhibit that connects science, history and pop culture while expanding the museum’s reach to gamers, television viewers and longtime fans of the franchise. 

The National Atomic Testing Museum will discuss the vision behind “World of Fallout,” including how the exhibit interprets real atomic history through the lens of contemporary entertainment and why the museum embraced an unconventional approach to historical storytelling. Bethesda Game Studios will provide insight into the partnership’s origins, why collaborating with the National Atomic Testing Museum was a natural fit for the Fallout franchise and how the exhibit continues to evolve. UNLV’s Entertainment Engineering and Design program will showcase how students helped bring key exhibit elements to life while gaining hands-on experience through a fast-paced, real-world creative project that bridged classroom learning with professional practice.

Moderated by Michelle Helms, director of communications for the National Atomic Testing Museum, the panel will feature:

• Scott Wade, author and vice chairman of the National Atomic Testing Museum
• Matt Malinowski, director of exhibits and engagement for the National Atomic Testing Museum
• Matt Clinkscales, associate vice president of global marketing for Bethesda Game Studios
• Jessica Finster, senior director of community for Bethesda Softworks
• Michael Genova, director of UNLV’s Entertainment Engineering and Design program.

Attendees will also receive an exclusive preview of the major expansion planned for the “World of Fallout” exhibit later this year.

Dedicated to preserving the history associated with the Nevada Test Site, now known as the Nevada National Security Sites, and the nation’s nuclear weapons program, the National Atomic Testing Museum continues to find innovative ways to connect history with contemporary culture. Its partnership with Bethesda Game Studios demonstrates how museums can use beloved entertainment franchises to spark curiosity about real-world events, while its collaboration with UNLV highlights the power of experiential education to prepare the next generation of designers, engineers and creative professionals. Together, the three organizations have created a project that bridges history, education and entertainment in ways that resonate with modern audiences.