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.
Topics
African American Heritage
Military
Science, Technology and Innovation
Tragic Events
Wars and Conflicts
Women's History
World War II
The B Reactor, located along the Columbia River in Washington, was the world’s first full scale nuclear reactor. — NPS
Things to Do
56 experiences from the National Park Service.
Check details on NPS.gov before you go.
Hanford: Join a Ranger Program
Reservation required
Ranger programs and Junior Ranger events are a great way for families and kids to learn about the Manhattan Project in the Tri-Cities while enjoying hands-on activities.
Los Alamos ranger programs are a great way to explore the remarkable history of the Manhattan Project. Call 505-661-6277 to see what ranger programs are available during your visit.
1-2 Hours
Year-round
Los Alamos Manhattan Project National Historical Park
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.
Find visitor centers and other services available in the park. Check current hours and availability before you go.
Visitor Centers
Tri-Cities Visitor Center
Visitor Center
Visit Tri-Cities is the tourism information center for the local area. This is a great place to stop by for helpful trip-planning advice for visiting the park and…
Visit Tri-Cities is the tourism information center for the local area. This is a great place to stop by for helpful trip-planning advice for visiting the park and numerous other attractions in the Tri-Cities. The helpful staff can provide you with itineraries for visits to the Tri-Cities region and suggest entertainment, lodging, and dining options. You may also purchase souvenir items and stamp your national parks passport here. Visit Tri-Cities may be reached at 509-735-8486.
Other Visitor Services
Hanford Visitor Center
Facility
Located in the city of Richland, this is the main visitor contact point for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in the Tri-Cities.
Located in the city of Richland, this is the main visitor contact point for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in the Tri-Cities.
Los Alamos Visitor Center
Facility
At the Los Alamos Visitor Center you can speak with park rangers, tour exhibits about the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, and learn more about where to go in town.
At the Los Alamos Visitor Center you can speak with park rangers, tour exhibits about the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, and learn more about where to go in town.
Oak Ridge Visitor Center
Facility
The Oak Ridge Visitor Center is located within the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. Here you are able to speak with National Park Service rangers, watch a short film on…
The Oak Ridge Visitor Center is located within the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. Here you are able to speak with National Park Service rangers, watch a short film on the Manhattan Project, and get literature on Manhattan Project-related historic sites throughout Oak Ridge. Visitor Center services are limited on Sundays, but brochures, maps, and site films are available.
Plan Your Visit
Hours
Today: 9:00AM - 4:00PM· Hanford Visitor Center
Hours by area (3)
Hanford Visitor CenterToday: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
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/.
Monday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Tuesday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Wednesday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Friday
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Los Alamos Visitor CenterToday: 10:00AM - 3:00PM
While there is currently no public access to the Department of Energy facilities in Los Alamos, walking tours are available in the town of Los Alamos. The Los Alamos Visitor Center is open Friday through Monday, 10 am to 3 pm.
Monday
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Saturday
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Sunday
10:00AM - 3:00PM
Oak Ridge Visitor CenterToday: 10:00AM - 4:00PM
The Oak Ridge Visitor Center is located within the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. Here you are able to speak with National Park Service rangers, watch a short film on the Manhattan Project, and get literature on Manhattan Project-related historic sites throughout Oak Ridge. Visitor Center services are limited on Sundays, but brochures, maps, and site films are available.
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Wednesday
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Thursday
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Friday
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Saturday
10:00AM - 4:00PM
Sunday
1:00PM - 4:00PM
Entrance fees
No entrance fees listed.
Address
National Park Service, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, c/o NPS Intermountain Regional Office Denver, CO 80225-0287
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.
Upcoming Events
10 coming up
Oct2
Ashley Pond History Walk [Los Alamos, NM]
Oct 2, 2026 ·
11:30 AM–12:30 PM · through Oct 31 Manhattan Project National Historical Park Visitor CenterFree
About
Join a ranger for a guided walk around Ashley Pond to hear stories about the Manhattan Project including how Los Alamos was selected, the desgn of the first atomic bombs, and what life was like in wartime Los Alamos.
Program availability is dependent on staffing levels and weather conditions. Please check at the Manhattan Project Visitor Center in Los Alamos to see if this program is offered on the day of your visit.
Oct3
A Secret City Planned from Miles Away: Housing and Home Life in Oak Ridge During the Manhattan Project [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 3, 2026 ·
02:00 PM–02:30 PM · through Oct 31 This program begins outside the main entrance of the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. The address is 461 W. Outer Dr. Oak Ridge, TN 37830.Free
About
Join a ranger at the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge for a 30 minute walk and talk on the museum grounds as we discuss the importance of Victory Gardens during World War II and the various types of homes that were assembled for the Manhattan Project. This program is free and accessible to all.
Oct3
Female Soldiers of the Manhattan Project: Ranger Talk in Jackson Square [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 3, 2026 ·
01:30 PM–02:00 PM Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 243 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
The program will begin at the fountain in the main parking lot.Free
About
The Women's Army Corps (WAC) played an essential role in the success of the Manhattan Project by providing critical administrative, technical, and security support. WAC members served in a variety of positions, including handling classified materials, maintaining records, supporting communications, and assisting scientific and military operations. Their dedication and service helped ensure the project's efficiency and security during World War II. This program explores their contributions and honors the lasting impact they made on history.
Oct3
Walk Through Wheat [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 3, 2026 ·
01:00 PM–02:30 PM Wheat Greenway.
Visitors should park and meet for the walk at the Wheat Greenway gravel parking lot on Blair Road, .25 mile (.45 km) north of the intersection with the Oak Ridge Turnpike.Free
About
Join rangers for a guided walk through the pre-Manhattan Project community of Wheat. As you walk the former townsite, rangers will discuss the families and communities the Manhattan Project displaced in late 1942. Stops include the George Jones Memorial Baptist Church, Roane College site and the Crawford Cumberland Presbyterian Memorial.
The walk is approximately one and a half miles on gravel paths and trails. The trail to the Roane College site includes a slight incline. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water to drink.
Show 6 more events
Oct8
Unveiling the Unknown: Giving Voice to African American History and Legacy at Hanford [Richland, WA]
Oct 8, 2026 ·
05:00 PM–07:30 PM REACH Museum 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland, WA 99352Free
About
Join us on October 8 at the REACH Museum in Richland, WA from 5:00-7:30 pm to celebrate the culmination of a three year-long project to research and document local Black history at the Hanford Site. Hanford History Project, African American Community Cultural & Educational Society (AACCES), and the park collaborated on this project to enhance understanding of African Americans’ contributions to Hanford during the Manhattan Project.
Doors open at 5:00 pm. At 6:00 pm speakers will provide insights into the research process and reflect on the impact of this history. Immediately following community elders will share stories that illuminate this rich history during a fire side chat. Program ends at 7:30 pm. The event is free and refreshments are provided.
Oct15
Building America's Secret City: Guided Ranger Walk in Jackson Square [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 15, 2026 ·
06:00 PM–07:00 PM Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN
243 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
The program will begin at the fountain in the main parking lot.Free
About
Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program in Jackson Square.
Jackson Square, or Town Center No. 1, formed the social and economic center of the wartime community of Oak Ridge. Stroll through the townsite to learn how Oak Ridgers created community in the atomic city.
During the walk, rangers and visitors will discuss what it took to shape Oak Ridge during World War II through routines and traditions brought from near and far.
Program ends at the Jackson Square Tennis Courts right on time for the Tennis Court Dance.
Oct15
Tennis Court Dance [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 15, 2026 ·
07:00 PM–08:00 PM Jackson Square Tennis Courts
96 W Tennessee Ave, Oak Ridge, TN 37830Free
About
Put on your dancing shoes, another summer of Tennis Court Dances are kicking off on the Jackson Square Tennis Courts. Held monthly on the third Thursday, Manhattan Project National Historical Park recreates the open air tennis court dances held during the Manhattan Project to entertain the 75,000 war workers and their families contained within America’s Secret City.
The dances are an all-ages event, and all are encouraged to participate. Featuring swing music from the 1940s, you might get bit by the jitterbug out on the court. Water, bug repellent and safe footwear is encouraged.
The 2026 Summer Season of Tennis Court Dances will be held on May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, and October 15, 2026.
Oct17
Enriching Uranium in Happy Valley: Guided Ranger Walk at K-25 [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 17, 2026 ·
11:00 AM–12:00 PM 200 Heritage Center Blvd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830Free
About
The largest plant site of the Manhattan Project, and the war, K-25 helped isolate the crucial uranium-235 from the more abundant uranium-238. To accomplish that goal, tens of thousands of construction workers relocated to Happy Valley. Learn more about the accomplishments of those workers, and the sacrifices it took to get there, at a ranger walk along the greenways through the former K-25 site.
Distance: 1 mile out and back. Greenway is asphalt. No elevation gain.
Oct17
Ride with a Ranger [Tri-Cities, WA]
Oct 17, 2026 ·
09:45 AM–01:00 PM The ride begins at the tennis courts in Leslie Groves Park (Saint Street, Richland, WA 99354). Limited parking is available at the tennis courts. Street parking is also available.Free
About
Join us for Ride with a Ranger Saturday, October 17 from 9:45 am to 11:00 pm (PDT).
Ride with a Ranger is a 17-mile (27.36 km) round trip ride from Leslie Groves Park along the Sacagawea Heritage Trail, on city streets through the Richland Parkway, and then continuing along the river to the REACH museum. There will be two stops along the route for presentations on the way to the REACH Museum. Check-in begins at 9:45 and the ride leaves at 10:00 am. The bike ride will arrive at the REACH Museum by approximately 11:00 am. Participants will have one hour at the REACH Museum. At 12:00 pm, participants will have the option to ride back to the start of the route with the rangers or return to Leslie Groves Park on their own at any time. Transportation back to the starting point will not be provided.
This event is FREE for registered participants. Event registration opens September 15 and will close on October 15 at 6:00 pm (or once filled). Registration is required. Bike Tri-Cities paid for museum admission for registrants. The suggested minimum age for this ride is 15 years old unless riding in a trailer or a tagalong.
Building America's Secret City: Guided Ranger Walk in Jackson Square [Oak Ridge, TN]
Oct 24, 2026 ·
01:00 PM–02:00 PM · through Dec 5 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN
243 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
The program will begin at the fountain in the main parking lot.Free
About
Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present a free program in Jackson Square.
Jackson Square, or Town Center No. 1, formed the social and economic center of the wartime community of Oak Ridge. Stroll through the townsite to learn how Oak Ridgers created community in the atomic city.
During the walk, rangers and visitors will discuss what it took to shape Oak Ridge during World War II through routines and traditions brought from near and far.
Photos
A hike with a Hanford park ranger can lead to new insights and perspectives of the local area. — NPS
Getting There
National Park Service, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, c/o NPS Intermountain Regional Office Denver, CO 80225-0287
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.