Manhattan Project National Historical Park
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireFrijoles
25 mi from the park's reference point · 15,956 acres · 90% contained
- PrescribedGolondrino Rx
45 mi from the park's reference point
Within 50 miles, as of 2026-10-14. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Check the park's alerts and the managing office before you drive.
Fees & passes
Free. No entrance fee here.
Hours
| Hanford Visitor Center | Varies by day ▾
|
| Los Alamos Visitor Center | Varies by day ▾
|
| Oak Ridge Visitor Center | Varies by day ▾
|
Hanford Visitor Center: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day | Hours not published |
| Dec 24, 2026Christmas Eve | Hours not published |
| Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day | Hours not published |
| Jan 1, 2027New Year's Day | Hours not published |
Oak Ridge Visitor Center: hours by date. Standard hours apply on every date not listed.
| Dates | Hours |
|---|---|
| Standard hoursNow |
|
| Nov 20, 2026Children's Museum of Oak Ridge Closed | Closed |
| Nov 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day | Hours not published |
| Dec 24 to Dec 25, 2026Christmas Eve and Day | Hours not published |
| Dec 31, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027New Year's Eve and Day | Hours not published |
| May 31, 2027Memorial Day | Hours not published |
| Jul 4, 2027Independence Day | Hours not published |
| Sep 6, 2027Labor Day | Hours not published |
When to go
July draws the most visits here and January the fewest, averaged over 2021 to 2025.
Visitor centers
- Hanford Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
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 ↗Passport stamp
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 ↗Passport stamp
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.
- Tri-Cities Visitor Center ↗Passport stamp
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.
Explore
Things to do
- Hanford: Bike and Walk the Sacagawea Heritage Trail1-4 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 history including Lewis and Clark’s experience in the Mid-Columbia region.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hanford: Attend a B Reactor Tour4 Hours
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 industrial scale and helped launch the nuclear age.
Opens on the Park Service site - Los Alamos: Tour Behind the Fence4 Hours
Take a tour behind the fence of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Opens on the Park Service site - Oak Ridge: Join a Ranger Program1-4 Hours
Oak Ridge ranger programs are a great way to explore the remarkable history of the Manhattan Project.
Opens on the Park Service site - Oak Ridge: Experience a Guided Tour Behind the Fence3 Hours
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hanford: Visit the Museum at Keewaydin2 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.
Opens on the Park Service site
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- Hanford: Visit LIGO2 Hours
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) is a modern example of cutting-edge research that has ties to the Hanford Site.
Opens on the Park Service site - Oak Ridge: Visit the Oak Ridge History Museum
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hanford: Visit Nez Perce National Historical Park2-4 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 includes southeastern Washington where the Hanford Site is today.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hanford: Join a Ranger Program1-3 Hours
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.
Opens on the Park Service site - Alamogordo: Visit the Trinity Site1-6 Hours
Two times a year, visitors are allowed to see the place where history was made at the Trinity Site. Run by the US Army, the Trinity site was the test area for the Gadget, site of the first human-caused nuclear explosion.
Opens on the Park Service site - Hanford: Visit the REACH Museum1-2 Hours
At The REACH Museum, you can learn about the natural and human history of the Tri-Cities. The museum houses rotating and permanent exhibits, including a robust exhibit on the Manhattan Project and Cold War.
Opens on the Park Service site
Films
National Park Service productions, public domain.
Events
- Building America's Secret City: Guided Ranger Walk in Jackson Square [Oak Ridge, TN]10/1506:00 PM · freeJackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 243 Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 The program will begin at the fountain in the main parking…
- Tennis Court Dance [Oak Ridge, TN]10/1507:00 PM · freeJackson Square Tennis Courts 96 W Tennessee Ave, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
- Ashley Pond History Walk [Los Alamos, NM]10/1611:30 AM · runs through Oct 31 · freeManhattan Project National Historical Park Visitor Center
- A Secret City Planned from Miles Away: Housing and Home Life in Oak Ridge During the Manhattan Project [Oak Ridge, TN]10/1702:00 PM · runs through Oct 31 · freeThis program begins outside the main entrance of the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. The address is 461 W.
- Enriching Uranium in Happy Valley: Guided Ranger Walk at K-25 [Oak Ridge, TN]10/1711:00 AM · free200 Heritage Center Blvd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
- 09:45 AM · free · registration requiredThe ride begins at the tennis courts in Leslie Groves Park (Saint Street, Richland, WA 99354).
Show all 10Hide
- 12:00 PM · freeCandy Mountain Trailhead 71004 E 669 Pr NE, Richland, WA 99352
- Beyond the Bomb: Stories of the Atomic Age [Oak Ridge, TN]10/2702:00 PM · free210 Badger Ave, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 ORAU Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity located within the Pollard Center.
- Halloween on the Home Front: Junior Ranger Pop-Up10/3110:30 AM · free461 W Outer Dr, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
- The Story of K-25: Ranger Talk at the K-25 Overlook11/1401:00 PM · freeK-25 Overlook Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 South Side of Turnpike across from East Tennessee Technology Park.
News
- Manhattan Project National Historical Park to Host Days of Peace and Remembrance Events in Richland, WA ↗2026-08-04
RICHLAND, Wash. – Manhattan Project National Historical Park will host two “Days of Peace and Remembrance” events in Richland on August 8 and 9 to commemorate and reflect on the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945.
- Discover Manhattan Project History This Summer with Free Ranger Led Programs ↗2026-05-13
Richland, W.A. – Manhattan Project National Historical Park is offering a lineup of free ranger programs this summer, inviting visitors to explore the history, science, and people behind the Manhattan Project.
- Manhattan Project National Historical Park to Offer Fishing Education for Local Youth This Summer ↗2026-05-05
Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge, Tennessee will offer monthly fishing education programs, Let’s Go Fishing, in June, July, August and September.
Map
Interactive map by the National Park Service
Historic landmarks nearby
Public land nearby
Distances are approximate. Wilderness Atlas publishes a center point and an acreage for each area rather than a boundary, so each area is treated here as a circle of the same size and the figure is the gap to that circle.
Forest Service trails nearby
These trails are outside the park on National Forest land, within 15 miles of Manhattan Project. Each one opens on Trailhead Atlas.
Distance is measured from the park's reference point to the nearer end of the trail.
Guidebooks for New Mexico's national parks and the Southwest
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject.
Reference
Weather & climate
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.
Questions people ask
Does Manhattan Project charge an entrance fee?
No. Manhattan Project is free to enter.
Source: National Park Service
What are the hours at Manhattan Project?
Standard hours are 9:00AM - 4:00PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and it is closed on Sunday and Saturday. Dated exceptions are listed under Hours.
Source: National Park Service
How busy is Manhattan Project?
56,390 recreation visits in 2025, number 254 of 387 units that report visitation.
Source: Most visited parks
Is there cell service at Manhattan Project?
At the park's reference point, FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 4G LTE, and T-Mobile 5G. Coverage inside the park varies by location.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
When was Manhattan Project established?
2015.
Source: Wikipedia
Follow this park
- Alerts feed (RSS)
- Every active Park Service alert for this unit, one item each, rebuilt with the nightly data refresh.
- Add dates to your calendar (.ics file)
- Fee-free entrance days that apply here and each published hours exception, as all-day events.
