Experimental Breeder Reactor-I
A preserved experimental reactor makes early nuclear engineering tangible through its control room, shielding, fuel handling, and the careful distinction between power production and propulsion research.
Artwork inspired by Cy Gilbert
On December 20, 1951, EBR-I produced enough electricity to light four bulbs and soon powered its own building—the first nuclear reactor to generate usable electricity. The preserved control room and reactor systems explain breeding, coolant loops, shielding, fuel, and remote handling at human scale. Read what the experiment proved rather than accepting the “first” label as the entire story.
The site also displays the Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion experiments, an ambitious program that never produced a nuclear aircraft. Compare success, limitation, and abandoned design. Because the landmark lies far from town and opens seasonally, verify access before driving; guided interpretation is much more valuable than photographing panels quickly.
- Milestone
- Electricity generated in 1951
- Status
- National Historic Landmark
- Allow
- 1½–2 hours
Quick guide
- Core to turbine to four
- Core to turbine to four bulbs
- Compare
- EBR-I and the aircraft experiments
Test the history at Experimental Breeder Reactor-I
- Opening question
- Locate the reactor core, coolant path, and turbine system.
- Core to turbine to four
- Ask what “breeding” meant in this experiment.
- Evidence to test
- Set the successful power milestone beside the canceled aircraft program.
- Conditions check
- Choose a clear distinction between reactor, generator, and electrical grid for Experimental Breeder Reactor-I Summer season only.
Good to know
EBR-I is seasonal and isolated on US-20/26. Check opening dates, road weather, and fuel before leaving Arco or Idaho Falls; the building is historic and industrial, so follow staff boundaries around equipment.
Notice these
- Electricity generated in 1951
- National Historic Landmark
- Ask what “breeding” meant in this experiment.