Accessibility at Hanford

A sign language interpreter with visitors on a B Reactor tour.

NPS

• Park Facilities and Community Sites: Most park facilities are on land that is owned and operated by the US Department of Energy and are located on secure Department of Energy Sites. There is limited public access, mostly via seasonal guided tours. There are also some park facilities located in the communities surrounding these sites that are owned and operated by private organizations. As you plan your visit to Hanford, please contact individual points of interest directly for information on accessibility, hours of operation, and fees. 
• Hanford Visitor Center: The Hanford Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible. The facility is managed by the Department of Energy. Contact them at 509-376-1647 for additional information on accessibility.

• Service Animals: Service animals are not subject to the park's pet policies and, when accompanying an individual with a disability, they are allowed wherever park visitors are allowed. A service animal means any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.  

  In accordance with the NPS policy, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the person’s disability prevents use of these devices. In those cases, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective means. 

  More information about the National Park Service service animal policy is available on the Service Animals in National Parks webpage. 

• Park Film: The park orientation film, Hanford Made, is available for viewing in the visitor center and includes open captions.
• Hanford Junior Ranger Book: The Hanford Junior Ranger book is online and can be read with a screen reader.
• Department of Energy Guided Tours: On the Department of Energy B Reactor and Pre War Historic Sites tours, visitors must be able to walk short distances on uneven surfaces and sit in a passenger bus for 45 minutes at a time. The Department of Energy offers wheelchair accessible buses and sign language interpretation for these tours by request. Requests must be made at least two weeks in advance by emailing B Reactor tours or calling 509-376-1647.
• NPS App: Some of the places featured on the NPS app include audio descriptions that provide a detailed verbal description of important Manhattan Project sites, making these places accessible to those with visual impairments. 
• Access Pass: The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). This pass provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. Manhattan Project National Historical Park does not issue passes. Learn more about how to obtain the Access Pass.