Pre-Manhattan Project Historic Tours

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.

2024 Tour Season

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

Planned tour dates for 2024 include:

May 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-27, and 31

June 1, 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29

July 4-7, 12-13, 19-20, and 26-27

August 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, and 30-31

September 1-2, 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, and 27-28

Tour Details

Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Hanford Unit Visitor Center

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
Allard Pump House
White Bluffs Ferry Landing
First Bank of White Bluffs
Hanford High School

Total time commitment is 4 hours

Group/School Tours

A limited number of school and group tours may be available with a minimum of 20 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Please submit requests to BReactor@rl.gov and include the following information:

Group/School Name
Transportation (own or have access to bus, or capability of procuring charter bus)
Number of participants (students + teachers/chaperones)
Requested tour date/time (please include alternate dates for flexibility)
Purpose of the tour (e.g., current course of study for students, community organization, reunion, etc.)
Is there a special focus for tour participants (e.g. technical or scientific interest)?

Staff will evaluate your request to determine feasibility and will contact you within one 1-2 business days.

We may also be able to help you reserve seats for your large group as part of a scheduled public tour.

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

Web Links:

You can learn more about the world-changing history, science and engineering behind the Manhattan Project and B Reactor, as well as the history of Native American and early settler populations at the Hanford Site, with videos produced by the B Reactor Museum Association (BRMA) and the Atomic Heritage Foundation (AHF), below. There's also a link to a virtual tour of the B Reactor.