The visitor center for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge re-opened on Tuesday.
The visitor center had been shut down for many months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The visitor center is at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge on West Outer Drive. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Oak Ridge is one of three sites that are part of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. The other two are Hanford, Washington, and Los Alamos, New Mexico. All three were part of the top-secret Manhattan Project during World War II. That was a federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs, before Germany could. The park tells the story of the workers and their missions during and after the war.
There are historical sites that remain in Oak Ridge, although some have limited access, and there are several museums that help tell the story. Those museums include the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, the American Museum of Science and Energy, the K-25 History Center, and the Oak Ridge History Center. There is also a history center at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Some historical sites in Oak Ridge include Jackson Square, Alexander Inn (Guest House), Graphite Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the former K-25 Building, and Beta 3 calutrons at Y-12, which were used to create the enriched uranium fuel for America’s first atomic weapon during World War II.
Elsewhere, the Manhattan Project Park’s visitor center at Hanford remains closed for now, while the Los Alamos visitor center is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mountain time Friday through Monday.
“Manhattan Project NHP actively supports federal, state, and local efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus in our communities,” the park said in a social media post. “The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners remains our number one priority. We will notify the public when we resume full operations. You can find updates on the park’s website (www.nps.gov/MAPR) and social media channels. Updates about NPS park and facility closures will be posted on www.nps.gov/coronavirus Learn more about things to do in the park this summer at: https://www.nps.gov/…/top-10-tips-for-visiting…“
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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