just missed a great photo opp - Hanford

[ampguy]

but am going to keep trying.

Yesterday, there were a few openings for this week of the Hanford Reactor B tour:

http://manhattanprojectbreactor.hanford.gov/index.cfm

But before registering I wanted to clarify about bringing cameras. I just called and found out that cameras are OK on the Reactor B tour, but not on the sitewide tour. But now the B Reactor tours are fully booked, at least for now.

Anyone go on either of these tours?

 

[ampguy]

They're still booked up, but here is a nice photo set taken by someone who went on the B Reactor tour:

 

[ampguy]

Well I got a lucky break, and there was an opening this week.

Photos here - taken with M8, and Canon 28/2.8 lens.

http://bit.ly/diUkze

 

[robklurfield]

that place scares me, even simply looking at pictures of it on the web. however, ampguy, if you take pix, I'll certainly look at them.

 

[35mmdelux]

Is the place radioactive?

 

[ampguy]

nah

nah

There are dosimeters in every room. The B Reactor has been cleaned up and is part of the National Reach Historic Monument.

Unfortunately, they don't let kids under 18 go yet, but it is because of the fragility of many of the items. For example, the shots of the open office and desk were Enrico Fermi's. Of course, Bill Gates and his young son were able to go, where his son continually stumped the docents on the history of the place.

The time to go is now, because by the time it's a major public museum, everything original will have been replaced, or covered in plexiglas.

Around the 640 square miles of south central WA, there is still a lot of clean up to be done, and will be for several decades, but the B Reactor tour is fascinating if you are a physics, chemistry, or history buff.

Is the place radioactive?

 

[ampguy]

Hi Rob

Hi Rob

Here's the link for my photos - I did get to go on the tour:

http://bit.ly/diUkze

that place scares me, even simply looking at pictures of it on the web. however, ampguy, if you take pix, I'll certainly look at them.

 

[ampguy]

Local news says this year's tours are opening up tonight or this week, and generally fill up in the first few hours. I really enjoyed this tour, both from a historical, and technological perspective.