 | At the height of the atomic age, encouraging kid to play with radioactive materials seemed all the rage. There was the Gilbert Atomic Energy Lab, where literally kids were handed radioactive materials to play with. Then there were board games like Uranium Rush, which encouraged kids to get out to "them thar hills" and go prospecting for uranium themselves. Through some comic books, kids could even order their ever own Geiger counter, to use to find radioactive materials with. |
Uranium Rush was a Gardner Games product from the mid 1950s. The information just to the left of the cactus on the top of the box (above) indicates that it was an "Educator Approved" Prestige Toy for 1955. Players begin with $15,000 and prospect for uranium in an area determined by a spinner (mountain, hills, or desert). Claims can be purchased for $1000 each and may be auctioned off or tested for uranium.
| This involves plugging in an electric "Geiger counter" into the holes in the gaming board, that produces a buzzing sound if uranium is discovered. The claim is then sold to the federal government for $50,000. Players alternate turns until all claims have been staked and the person with the most money is declared the winner. An exciting electronic board game for all the family, from the crazy days of the Atomic Age. |  |
