The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Integratron, a wooden dome structure built by George Van Tassel, was constructed without nails or metal in its original design. The specific wood used for its construction was reportedly sourced from Howard Hughes' shipyards located in Washington.
“The design George landed on was a wooden dome, about 40 feet high and 60 feet wide. Painted all white on the outside. When you walk in, it's just a big open cylindrical space with a column in the middle. But take 10 steps up to the second story. And then... You're in this magnificent, massive wooden chamber. And the whole entire thing is completely made out of wood. In the original construction, there are no nails, there's no metal.”
“That's where all the wood came from was actually Howard Hughes' shipyards in Washington.”