Manhattan Project

At the start of Manhattan Project work, about 1,500 residents in the agricultural towns of Hanford and White Bluffs were displaced from their homesteads and orchards, along with Native American Tribes, as the government transformed the Eastern Washington desert as part of the secret war project. Sign up for a tour and learn more about the history of the mid-Columbia prior to the eviction of the homeowners and tribes in 1943.

2026 Tour Season

The U.S. Department of Energy offers free public tours of the pre-WWII historic sites.

The duration of each tour is approximately 4 hours. Tours are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. during the months of May, June, and September, and at 8:00 a.m. in July and August. Registration for available tour dates will open on April 1, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. To secure your spot, please click the "Register Now" button starting on that date. 

Planned tour dates for 2026 include:

• May 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-25, and 30
• June 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27
• July 3-5, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, and 31
• August 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29
• September 4-7, 11-12, 18-19, and 25-26

We are also offering an NPS Ranger program this summer. 

• Atomic Explorations. Explore the history, science, and people of the Manhattan Project while visiting the park. Learn about the events that culminated in the development and deployment of the world’s first atomic bombs during World War II and share Hanford’s connection to this world-changing history.  Programs are offered May 25th - September 5th, Monday - Saturday at 2:00 pm in the park visitor center (2000 Logston Blvd, Richland). Programs are free, and reservations are not required. Visit Hanford Ranger Programs for more information. 

Tour Details

• Free of charge
• Open to all ages
• Open to visitors from around the world
• Cameras, cell phones, and other recording devices are allowed
• Food and drinks (non-alcoholic) are allowed on the bus
• There is no food or drink for sale at the visitor center
• There are restrooms at one of the stops mid-way through the tour
• Tours begin and end at the visitor center located at 2000 Logston Blvd. Richland WA.
• The tour includes bus stops, interpretation, and a short walking tour at the following Manhattan Project National Historical Park resources:
  • Bruggemann Warehouse
  • B Reactor (Outside fence/ Remain on bus)
  • Allard Pump House
  • White Bluffs Ferry Landing
  • First Bank of White Bluffs
  • Hanford High School
• Total time commitment is 4 hours

Group/School Tours

Due to limited seating, we are unable to offer special group or school tours at this time. This option will be available again once the B Reactor tours resume.

If you have any questions, please call the visitor center, at (509) 376-1647.

Web Links

Learn more about Manhattan Project National Historical Park and the places, people, and science behind the project that ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic weapons.

• What is the Manhattan Project?  
• Take a virtual tour of the B Reactor and T Plant
• Learn about Hanford
• Download the NPS app to make the most of your visit.