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DOE bus tours restart in Oak Ridge

Posted at 2:29 pm July 19, 2022
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

U.S. Department of Energy public bus tours have resumed in Oak Ridge after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo from DOE)

U.S. Department of Energy public bus tours have resumed in Oak Ridge after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tours began running again on July 11, and they are scheduled to continue through November.

“The program is a longtime staple in the community, helping educate residents and visitors about the site’s rich history and current missions,” DOE said in an EM Update newsletter published Tuesday. (EM stands for environmental management.)

The tour program started in 1996 and has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from all 50 states, DOE said.

The three-and-a-half-hour tours allow visitors to see all three DOE sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Y-12 National Security Complex, and East Tennessee Technology Park.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, East Tennessee Technology Park, Front Page News, History, K-25, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, bus tours, East Tennessee Technology Park, Graphite Reactor, K-25 Building, K-25 History Center, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

Learn more about ‘Secret City,’ Manhattan Project during bus tours in August

Posted at 10:57 pm July 12, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

oakridge_graphite-reactor_mainpg_1_1
The X-10 Graphite Reactor with workers. (U.S. Department of Energy)

Two new bus tours offered in Oak Ridge in August will allow you to learn more about the unique heritage of the Manhattan Project, a press release said. The bus tours are the “Secret City” and “Oak Ridge Museums” tours.

The “Secret City” tour will be led by a National Park Service ranger, last three hours, and include that day’s admission to the American Museum of Science and Energy.

“During the Manhattan Project, a community was created almost overnight to accomplish the monumental task of producing enriched uranium on a large scale,” the press release said. “During the tour, visitors can develop an understanding of what life was like during World War II in a city behind a fence that no one was supposed to discuss. The tour will also include a visit to the X-10 Graphite Reactor, a National Historic Landmark, and the world’s first nuclear reactor designed and built for continuous operation.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Front Page News, Government, History, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, bus tours, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Graphite Reactor, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Park Service, Oak Ridge History Museum, Oak Ridge museums, Secret City, World War II

Planning for national park, Park Service tours Jackson Square, K-25, ORNL, Y-12

Posted at 10:58 am March 27, 2015
By John Huotari 5 Comments

Vic Knox of National Park Service

Vic Knox (Photo by D. Ray Smith)

Note: This story was last updated at 12:37 p.m.

Planning for the new Manhattan Project National Historical Park has started, and federal officials this week toured Jackson Square, the former K-25 site, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Stops included the Alexander Inn, Chapel on the Hill, the former K-25 Building site, the Graphite Reactor at ORNL, and two buildings at Y-12: Building 9731, a pilot plant, and Building 9204-3, also known as Beta 3.

“Several of those sites are just amazing,” said Vic Knox, associate director of park planning, facilities, and lands for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C. “They seem like they are just the way they were in 1943. It seems like they take you back in time.”

Oak Ridge was built as part of the Manhattan Project, a top-secret federal program to build the world’s fist atomic weapons during World War II. Besides Oak Ridge, the new national park includes Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington. [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Alexander Inn, American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, atomic weapons, B Reactor, Beta 3, Building 9204-3, Building 9731, bus tours, Chapel on the Hill, Clark Center Park, Colin Colverson, Congress, Graphite Reactor, Hanford, Heritage Center, Jackson Square, K-25, Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, National Nuclear Security Administration, national park, National Park Service, NPS, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, open house, ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Interior, Vic Knox, Waren Gooch, World War II, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex

Secret City Festival features something for everyone

Posted at 1:51 pm June 8, 2014
By Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau Leave a Comment

Secret City Festival Crowd June 2012

A large crowd waits to hear music during the June 2012 festival.

 

Make plans to attend the 12th Annual Secret City Festival on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, in historic Oak Ridge. Join more than 20,000 visitors and residents to celebrate the end of World War II and the heritage of Oak Ridge from 1945 to the present.

Here’s an overview of some of the many activities and events taking place at this year’s festival: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Community, Entertainment, Music, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, antiques, arts and crafts, Arts Council of Oak Ridge, Bill Capshaw, bus tours, Children's Festival Area, City of Oak Ridge, Clinton Region AACA, concert, Eddie Money, food vendors, Graphite Reactor, heritage, history, Jada Blade, Kix Brooks, living history, Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, oral history, ORHPA, Phoenix Drive, Salute to Soldiers, Secret City Cruise-in Car Show, Secret City Festival, Secret City Scenic Excursion Train, TN Creates, Toddler's Area, U.S. Department of Energy, World War II, Y-12 National Security Complex

DOE public bus tour begins June 2

Posted at 12:22 pm June 2, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

DOE Public Bus Tour

A U.S. Department of Energy public bus tour in August 2012. (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)

Visitors see Oak Ridge’s past and present

The U.S. Department of Energy’s 2014 Oak Ridge facilities public bus tour begins June 2 and continues through August 29. The tour offers visitors a first-hand look at the DOE’s Oak Ridge facilities and provides historical commentary on the transformation of the Oak Ridge Reservation during the past 70 years.

The reservation-wide tour is a popular attraction for tourists visiting the area. Since its inception in 1996, the DOE public tour program has attracted more than 30,000 visitors from all 50 states. The three-hour tour allows visitors to see the Oak Ridge Reservation and learn about its history. It also provides participants a chance to find out about the world-class missions underway in Oak Ridge.

Bus stops include: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, East Tennessee Technology Park, Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: <-25, American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, B&W Y-12, Bethel Cemetery, bus tours, DiAnn Fields, DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, Historic Graphite Reactor, Lissa Clarke, Manhattan Project, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Bethel Baptist Church, New Hope Center, NNSA Production Office, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge Reservation, public bus tours, Secret City, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, UT-Battelle, Y-12 National Security Complex

DOE summer bus tours end Aug. 30

Posted at 9:12 am August 3, 2013
By U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office Leave a Comment

DOE Public Bus Tour

This year’s public bus tours of the U.S. Department of Energy’s facilities in Oak Ridge end on Aug. 30. (Photo courtesy DOE/Lynn Freeny)

The public bus tours of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge facilities end Aug. 30. It’s the last day of the 2013 season.

The tours include stops at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Y-12 National Security Complex, and East Tennessee Technology Park, and they provide historical commentary on the transformation of the Oak Ridge Reservation during the past 65 years.

So far this season, 1,148 visitors from 43 states have participated in the summer tour, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, East Tennessee Technology Park, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, B&W Y-12, bus tours, DiAnn Fields, DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, Lissa Clarke, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge Reservation, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, UT-Battelle, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Site Office

Secret City Festival features ‘something for everyone’

Posted at 9:42 am June 21, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 5 Comments

Homemade Wine Band

The Homemade Wine Band played after the Friday morning opening ceremony at the Secret City Festival.

The annual Secret City Festival started today, and it features Manhattan Project bus tours and history displays, World War II living history activities and demonstrations, arts and crafts and antiques dealers, food vendors and exhibitors, a children’s festival area and youth events, and a car show and concerts.

“Join more than 20,000 visitors and residents to celebrate the end of World War II and the heritage of Oak Ridge from 1945 to the present,” a press release said.

Oak Ridge was built during World War II as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, a federal program to build the world’s atomic bombs, and the festival celebrates the city’s heritage.

Festival organizers have provided an overview of some of the many activities and events taking place at this year’s festival:
 [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Community, Music, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, antiques, arts, Arts Council of Oak Ridge, BMX Bike Show, bus tours, car show, Casey Abrams, Center for Oak Ridge Oral History, children's area, Children's Festival Area, City of Oak Ridge, Clinton Region AACA, concerts, Cornhole Tournament, crafts, exhibitors, food, Graphite Reactor, heritage, history displays, living history, Manhattan Project, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORHPA, Playful City Kid Circuit, Rick Springfield, Secret City Cruise-in Car Show, Secret City Festival, Secret City Scenic, Soul Candy and the Traffic Jam, The Dirty Guv'nahs, TN Creates, Toddler's Area, U.S. Department of Energy, World War II, WWII, Y-12 National Security Complex

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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