Hanford: Attend a B Reactor Tour

The B Reactor towers over a docent as he explains to visitors how the reactor produced plutonium.

NPS/BURGHART

Have you ever wanted to see the world's first full-scale nuclear reactor in person? The US Department of Energy offers reservation-based guided tours of the B Reactor in Hanford, Washington, where scientists and engineers pioneered the technology behind nuclear reactors. These guided tours take you “behind the fence” to see the world’s first full scale nuclear reactor. Sign up for one of these tours and learn more about this historic site during your visit. 

Details

Duration

4 Hours

45-minute bus ride each way with 2 hours touring the B Reactor 

Activity

Guided Tours

Age(s)

0 and Older

Pets Allowed

No

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Hanford Visitor Center

2000 Logston BLVD, Richland, WA 99354 

Reservations

Yes

Make reservations for the B Reactor tour.

Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Time of Day

Day

Morning and Afternoon

Accessibility Information

On the Department of Energy B Reactor tour, 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.  

Additional accessibility features are available in the B Reactor including:  

3-D Tactile Map: Covering the B Reactor tour path, the 3-D tactile map is primarily designed for blind and partially sighted users to gain a spatial understanding of the B Reactor. The map is available upon request at the visitor center for use on the B Reactor tours.   

Audio Description Tour of the B Reactor: This feature is available through the NPS app under my settings. Tour is designed to assist blind and low vision visitors with navigating and experiencing the B Reactor while on a public tour.   

Exhibit Panel Descriptions: Text and descriptions of each exhibit panel in the Atomic Culture Room, Health Physics Room, and History Room within the B Reactor are available on the park website. Braille is available for the Haiku for You magnetic word interactive exhibit.