Manhattan Project National Historical Park Visitor Center
Legacy & Interpretation Today
Preserving the Past, Understanding Its Impact, and Sharing the Story
The story of the Tri-Cities didn’t end with World War II, in many ways, it began there.
What was once a temporary wartime project became a permanent community. The science and infrastructure developed at Hanford laid the foundation for decades of innovation in nuclear energy, environmental cleanup, and high-tech research. But alongside that progress came questions - about displacement, secrecy, ethics, and environmental responsibility - that continue to shape how this story is told.
Today, sites like the Manhattan Project National Historical Park's B Reactor, the REACH Museum, the Pasco Aviation Museum, and interpretive installations across the region help visitors connect the dots between past and present. Public art, historic markers, and educational programs preserve memory while inviting reflection.
Even everyday places, from preserved homes and downtown storefronts to public parks and bridges, offer glimpses into this extraordinary history, if you know where to look.
This legacy belongs to all of us. And it’s still being written.
