National Historical Park

Manhattan Project National Historical Park

Southwest

About Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project is one of the most transformative events of the 20th century. It ushered in the nuclear age with the development of the world’s first atomic bombs. Most of this development took place in three secret communities located in Hanford, WA, Los Alamos, NM and Oak Ridge, TN. Today, you can visit these three sites that make up Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

From the National Park Service.

Region: Southwest
States: New Mexico, Washington and Tennessee
Designation: National Historical Park
Entrance fee: None listed

Trail data for this park is still being added.
Places for this park are still being added.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, weather and getting to Manhattan Project.

Entrance fees

The National Park Service lists no entrance fee for this park.

Hours

Hanford Visitor Center

Mon: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Tue: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Wed: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Thu: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Fri: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

The Hanford Visitor Center is open Monday - Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM. Access to the Hanford B Reactor is suspended due to major construction projects. To check for updates about these tours, visit http://manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov/. Separate tours of the Historic Sites are offered beginning in May. For more information about these tours, visit http://tours.hanford.gov/HistoricTours/.

Weather and when to go

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park has units in Hanford, WA, Los Alamos, NM, and Oak Ridge, TN. Check local weather conditions at each unit before you visit.

Getting there

Manhattan Project National Historical Park is located in three states: New Mexico, Tennessee, and Washington. For more information on accessing each of these three units, visit our Directions & Transportation page.

Directions from the National Park Service

Contact the park

Address: National Park Service, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, c/o NPS Intermountain Regional Office, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, CO 80225-0287
Phone: (509) 376-1647
Email: mapr_information@nps.gov
Official site: nps.gov/mapr

From the National Park Service, checked weekly. Fees, hours and road conditions change: confirm with the park before you go.

Trip planner

A day-by-day plan for Manhattan Project

Tell us your dates and what you are into. We group the stops by where they are, so each day is one part of the park, not a zigzag.

Plan your park trip Free. No account needed.

Things to do in Manhattan Project

The park service's own list, with how long each takes.

Hanford: Bike and Walk the Sacagawea Heritage Trail

Biking · about 2 hours

This recreational trail along the Columbia River is a perfect way to explore the Tri-Cities on foot and bike. Interpretive signs along the route share information about local hist…
Hanford: Attend a B Reactor Tour

Guided Tours · about 4 hours · Reservation required

The US Department of Energy provides guided tours of the B Reactor. These tours provide a glimpse into the science and technology that made plutonium production possible on an ind…
Los Alamos: Tour Behind the Fence

Guided Tours · about 4 hours · Reservation required

Take a tour behind the fence of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Oak Ridge: Join a Ranger Program

First Person Interpretation · about 2 hours

Oak Ridge ranger programs are a great way to explore the remarkable history of the Manhattan Project. Follow the link for more information on types of programs and availability.
Oak Ridge: Experience a Guided Tour Behind the Fence

Guided Tours · about 3 hours · Reservation required

Guided bus tours of Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge provide visitors an intimate behind-the-scenes glimpse of some of the most revolutionary science of the 20th century. Foll…
Hanford: Visit the Museum at Keewaydin

Museum Exhibits · about 2 hours

Located in Kennewick's oldest park, the Museum at Keewaydin shares the history of east Benton County and communities that were close to the Manhattan Project. The museum's collect…
Hanford: Visit LIGO

Museum Exhibits · about 2 hours

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is a modern example of cutting-edge research that has ties to the Hanford Site. Built on the site in Washington in t…
Oak Ridge: Visit the Oak Ridge History Museum

Museum Exhibits · about 45 min

The Oak Ridge History Museum, opened in 2019, houses a wealth of exhibits dedicated to the human history of Oak Ridge during the Manhattan Project. Exhibits include a detailed tim…
Hanford: Visit Nez Perce National Historical Park

Museum Exhibits · about 2.7 hours

Since time immemorial, the Nimiipuu (Nez Perce) people have relied on the valleys, prairies, mountains, and plateaus of the Inland Northwest for their way of life. This area inclu…