Hanford: Family Adventure in Science & History

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.

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.

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. .

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.