Wanapum Heritage Center
The Wanapum people’s homeland lies at the center of what is now the Hanford Site in Washington. The Wanapum Heritage Center is located near the site of their former village at the Priest Rapids, which was relocated during construction of the Wanapum Dam. The heritage center includes 10,000 square feet (929 sq. m.) of interactive permanent exhibits and 2,000 square feet (186 sq m.) of rotating exhibits. These exhibits use the words and stories of Wanapum elders and youth to explore their living culture and its history.
aMERICA'S HISTORICAL WW2 DECISION
MANHATTAN PROJECT - HISTORY LESSON
The Manhattan Project ushered in the nuclear age, and Hanford played a key role in dawning this new era. Spend time exploring local museums to learn about Hanford’s role in the Manhattan Project and other ways the Tri Cities community contributed to the World War II effort on the home front. Tour a modern laboratory with ties to the Manhattan Project and see how gravitational waves are measured as they pass through the earth. Nuclear reactors at Hanford (now the Hanford Site) produced plutonium for the Manhattan Project to fuel the first atomic test and the Fat Man atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945. The story of the Manhattan Project at Hanford encompasses historic facilities and educational centers with the National Park Service, the US Department of Energy and the communities where Hanford workers and their families lived, which are all part of the Tri-Cities region today. Click Here Tour Information
Hanford Reach National Monument
Born of fire and ice and flood over millions of years, preserved through the war and conflict of half a century, now protected forever. Protected by Presidential Proclamation in 2000 under the American Antiquities Act, the Monument is a place of sweeping vistas and stark beauty, of towering bluffs and delicate flowers. Wildlife abounds in this harsh landscape—rare is a trip along the river that doesn't produce mule deer, coyotes, bald eagles, great blue herons, or white pelicans. A large elk herd hides in the canyons, and incredibly, porcupines are a common sight. Rare plants defy the desert, wind and heat. Beautiful spring wildflower displays delight the visitor who ventures into the field.
The Monument is also a reminder of our history as a nation. Plutonium reactors stand along the river, remnants of WWII and the Cold War. Plutonium from B Reactor fueled "Fat Man," the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. No longer in production, these reactors are now being dismantled, and the lands and waters cleaned. So, whether you're interested in history, sightseeing, wildlife, hunting, fishing, or just enjoying a bit of time away from the bustle of everyday life, the Hanford Reach National Monument has something to offer you. But don't come expecting a lot of visitor facilities—they don't exist. You'll be experiencing the Monument on its own terms. Click Here
America is celebrating in 2026
Watch for information about local celebrations being planned and click the "Learn More" button to brush up your American Independence and History!