Hanford B Reactor
Hanford’s B Reactor connects the world’s first full-scale plutonium-production reactor to the people, displacement, wartime decisions, and environmental consequences surrounding it.
Artwork inspired by Z. Vanessa Helder
Hanford’s B Reactor connects the world’s first full-scale plutonium-production reactor to the people, displacement, wartime decisions, and environmental consequences surrounding it. Separate surviving material from later commemoration, then ask whose land, labor, authority, and memory structure the account.
The reactor is closed to in-person public access during roof replacement and preservation work. Use the National Park Service virtual tour and check the current Hanford ranger-program calendar for ways to interpret the site from Richland.
- Setting
- Richland, Washington
- Current access
- B Reactor is closed for preservation work; virtual visits remain available
- Allow
- 2–4 hours
Quick guide
- Access update
- The intact reactor is presently closed to in-person public access during preservation work
- Use the virtual visit
- Use the National Park Service virtual tour and current ranger programs instead
Test the history at Hanford B Reactor
- Opening question
- Begin with the reactor’s engineering purpose, then widen the story to land, labor, war, and nuclear legacy.
- Access update
- The virtual reactor tour and current ranger-led interpretation in the Tri-Cities.
- Evidence to test
- 2–4 hours.
- Conditions check
- Check the current closure and ranger-program calendar before traveling.
Good to know
The B Reactor is not presently open for in-person tours. Check the National Park Service calendar for virtual-reactor programs and other Hanford interpretation before making a dedicated trip.
Notice these
- the first full-scale plutonium-production reactor
- virtual reactor access during preservation work
- 2–4 hours