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Hanford’s Atomic History Comes to Life at the REACH Museum

August 25, 2025

CWP

The eighth stop on our “Road Trip Through the Atomic Age,” featured in the 2025 Cold War Patriots calendar, brought Cold War Patriots members and guests to the REACH Museum in Richland, Washington. This exciting tour centered around the Hanford Site, home to the Hanford Engineer Works and the B Reactor, which was the world’s first full-scale plutonium production reactor. Some of our Cold War Patriots members worked at the Hanford site, one of the three original Manhattan Project sites. Through engaging exhibits, attendees explored how Hanford helped drive the Manhattan Project forward, and how it laid the groundwork for major advancements in nuclear science.

In addition to its atomic history, the REACH Museum offered a broader perspective on the Tri-Cities region. Exhibits on land conservation, local fish populations, and agriculture provided a well-rounded view of the area’s environmental and economic evolution. This stop gave Cold War Patriots members and guests a meaningful glimpse into how the region’s past, present, and future are deeply intertwined with both scientific innovation and natural stewardship.

Below are photos of Cold War Patriots members enjoying the exhibits.

people sitting on a bench while museum tour guide gives presentation — Cold War Patriots listening to a REACH Museum docent discussing the exhibit.

Two older men looking at a museum exhibit — Cold War Patriots members file into Gallery Two, the Manhattan Project exhibit, at the REACH Museum.

To learn more about upcoming 2025 Cold War Patriots calendar tours and to RSVP for one near you, visit 2025 Calendar Events – Cold War Patriots.