A visit to the Hanford Museum

A visit to the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science and Technology.

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DSC01227 This is how the exhibit begins: photos of Richland taken before the Hanford site was acquired by the government. At the time, Richland was a windy and dusty tiny village in the middle of nowhere.

This is how the exhibit begins: photos of Richland taken before the Hanford site was acquired by the government. At the time, Richland was a windy and dusty tiny village in the middle of nowhere.

DSC01228 In the 20s, you would go to the barbershop to get a hair cut, to take a bath, or to have a drink.

In the 20s, you would go to the barbershop to get a hair cut, to take a bath, or to have a drink.

DSC01229 For a long time, the number of available houses in Richland was largely below the demand. People had to sign in a waiting list, and sleep in dorms or in trailers in the meanwhile.

For a long time, the number of available houses in Richland was largely below the demand. People had to sign in a waiting list, and sleep in dorms or in trailers in the meanwhile.

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DSC01231 Richland, in 1943. Except for the cars and the houses which are in slightly better conditions, it is not so different from how some residential areas in southwest Richland still look like...

Richland, in 1943. Except for the cars and the houses which are in slightly better conditions, it is not so different from how some residential areas in southwest Richland still look like...

DSC01232 An aerial view of Richland, taken in 1942. If you compare it against Google maps, you see how many of the fields have been replaced by buildings.

An aerial view of Richland, taken in 1942. If you compare it against Google maps, you see how many of the fields have been replaced by buildings.

DSC01233 A picture of the

A picture of the

DSC01234 This is how the B reactor looked like, as seen by a worked which showed up at the Hanford area gates.

This is how the B reactor looked like, as seen by a worked which showed up at the Hanford area gates.

DSC01236 Security personnel is still guarding the entire perimeter of the limited areas in the Hanford Area. Also in the non-limited areas, you have to clearly wear and ID badge, and you can be challenged anytime by anyone.

Security personnel is still guarding the entire perimeter of the limited areas in the Hanford Area. Also in the non-limited areas, you have to clearly wear and ID badge, and you can be challenged anytime by anyone.

DSC01237 A reproduction of an engineer's office. It still exudes passion and effort.

A reproduction of an engineer's office. It still exudes passion and effort.

DSC01238 On the table, a valuable POST Slide Rule.

On the table, a valuable POST Slide Rule.

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DSC01240 Radioactive waste was stored in tanks, which are still there in many sites at the Hanford Area.

Radioactive waste was stored in tanks, which are still there in many sites at the Hanford Area.

DSC01241 A double-shell tank, like the many still in the grounds of the Hanford area. A large effort is in place to clean up everything and making this waste harmless and inert by vitrification.

A double-shell tank, like the many still in the grounds of the Hanford area. A large effort is in place to clean up everything and making this waste harmless and inert by vitrification.

DSC01242 Having fun with the manipulator (yes, I'm older than 12).
Workers used to manipulate radioactive materials with a remote manipulator exactly like this one. It's actually pretty easy to use it, even to carry out relatively complex tasks like opening a box and putting stuff in it.

Having fun with the manipulator (yes, I'm older than 12). Workers used to manipulate radioactive materials with a remote manipulator exactly like this one. It's actually pretty easy to use it, even to carry out relatively complex tasks like opening a box and putting stuff in it.

DSC01243 The interconnect of the multiple, modular, manipulation rooms also featured the first industrial application of Teflon.

The interconnect of the multiple, modular, manipulation rooms also featured the first industrial application of Teflon.

DSC01244 Having fun with the manipulator.

Having fun with the manipulator.

DSC01245 This is the handle of the manipulator. It's a little beaten up, but it still works fine. It does not take any strength to use it.

This is the handle of the manipulator. It's a little beaten up, but it still works fine. It does not take any strength to use it.

DSC01246 Another view of the manipulator handle. The two buttons on the top (white and red) allow to move the arm farther or closer to the operator. This way, the operator can remain close to the glass no matter what is the distance of the things he manipulates.

Another view of the manipulator handle. The two buttons on the top (white and red) allow to move the arm farther or closer to the operator. This way, the operator can remain close to the glass no matter what is the distance of the things he manipulates.

DSC01247 A sample of uranium ore. They give you a simple Geiger counter, and they allow you to personally get a reading for a number of materials.

A sample of uranium ore. They give you a simple Geiger counter, and they allow you to personally get a reading for a number of materials.

DSC01248 This is the panel with the materials you could measure yourself with the Geiger counter. The sample which caused the highest readings was, surprisingly, an orange Fiestaware mug. Apparently, the colorant it employed is radioactive, and much more radioactive than uranium ore. People used to have breakfast every day in those things. Scary.

This is the panel with the materials you could measure yourself with the Geiger counter. The sample which caused the highest readings was, surprisingly, an orange Fiestaware mug. Apparently, the colorant it employed is radioactive, and much more radioactive than uranium ore. People used to have breakfast every day in those things. Scary.

DSC01249 How the

How the "new production reactor complex" looked like in the 70s.

DSC01250 How an uranium fuel element used in the N reactor looked like.

How an uranium fuel element used in the N reactor looked like.

DSC01251 On the back, the ground-breaking for reactor N, in 1963, with an autograph of President Kennedy, which authorized it.

On the back, the ground-breaking for reactor N, in 1963, with an autograph of President Kennedy, which authorized it.

DSC01252 The guide shows me a picture of how working at the uranium extrusion press was like. Despite the novelty of nuclear technologies and the limited knowledge about their risks, nobody contracted a radiation illness.

The guide shows me a picture of how working at the uranium extrusion press was like. Despite the novelty of nuclear technologies and the limited knowledge about their risks, nobody contracted a radiation illness.

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DSC01262 After the end of the cold war, most facilities have been reconverted for peaceful purposes. Some of the industries here work on titanium, which allows to manufacture strong and lightweight structures.

After the end of the cold war, most facilities have been reconverted for peaceful purposes. Some of the industries here work on titanium, which allows to manufacture strong and lightweight structures.