Trip Idea

Hanford: Family Adventure in Science & History

Multiple Parks

5 adults and 4 kids standing around a round exhibit with a glass top
Duration Full Day
Topic(s) Cold War, World War II, Science, Technology and Innovation, Architecture and Building, River and Riparian more »
Activities Self-Guided Tours - Walking, Picnicking, Museum Exhibits
Type Kid Friendly, Educational, Indoors, Outdoors
Parks Manhattan Project National Historical Park

If you love science and history, then this tour is for you. Start this family-friendly adventure at the REACH Museum in Richland, Washington, which includes engaging exhibits on the Manhattan Project and the Cold War. Then drive to Rodney Block Park, to picnic and see Manhattan Project-era homes where project scientists and engineers lived. Then take a tour at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), which was built to detect gravitational wave vibrations from outer space. End your trip with a quick stop at the USS Triton Sail Park near the Columbia River. There, you can see the sail of the first nuclear-powered submarine that circumnavigated the globe while staying submerged, a feat made possible by nuclear technology developed at Hanford for the Manhattan Project.
A Full Day of Adventures in Richland
  • Manhattan Project National Historical Park

    Hanford: Visit the REACH Museum

    • Activity Fee: Yes
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Museum Exhibits
    • Pets: No
    • Location: The REACH Museum
    • Duration: 1–2 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    Color photograph of a cement brick building with an ornate copper roof. A sign reads

    At The REACH Museum, you can learn about the natural and human history of the Tri-Cities. The museum houses rotating and permanent exhibits, including a robust exhibit on the Manhattan Project and Cold War.

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  • Manhattan Project National Historical Park

    Hanford: Picnic and Play in Rodney Block Park

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Picnicking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: Rodney Block Park
    • Duration: 1–2 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day, Dawn, Dusk
    Color photograph of a green space with large trees in the background and a playground.

    Rodney Block Park in Richland, Washington, was originally created as a place to play and relax for the Manhattan Project workers and their families who lived in the alphabet homes that surround the park. Today, the park is still a place for recreation that draws people of all ages.

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  • Manhattan Project National Historical Park

    Hanford: Visit LIGO

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Museum Exhibits
    • Pets: No
    • Location: LIGO Hanford Observatory
    • Duration: 2 Hours
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer
    • Time of Day: Day
    Color photograph of three windows with blue frames surrounding two glass doors with blue frames.

    The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is a modern example of cutting-edge research that has ties to the Hanford Site. Built on the site in Washington in the 1990s, LIGO uses laser interferometers to detect gravitational waves, which helps in studies of major stellar events like the collision of black holes. LIGO offers free-admission facility tours each month and drop-in visits for small groups during the week. .

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  • Manhattan Project National Historical Park

    Hanford: Explore USS Triton Sail Park

    • Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
    • Reservations: No
    • Activity: Self-Guided Tours - Walking
    • Pets: Yes
    • Location: USS Triton Sail Park  
    • Duration: 15–30 Minutes
    • Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
    • Time of Day: Day
    Color photograph of purple flowers in front of the top of a submarine that sits on the sidewalk.  

    Enjoy views of the Columbia River as you walk around the sail of the USS Triton. The USS Triton was the first vessel to complete a submerged circumnavigation of the Earth in 1960 powered by nuclear reactor technology developed at Hanford for the Manhattan Project. Visitors to the park can walk along Richland’s Riverfront Trail, which connects walkers to other parks along the Columbia River. Tours inside the USS Triton sail are available.

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Last updated: May 18, 2022