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    Franklin County Historical Society

    4.0 (1 review)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 5:00 PM

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    11 years ago

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    Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours - All these signs are hand painted

    Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours

    4.9(14 reviews)
    11.5 mi

    Wow, this tour is AMAZING. It starts with a 15 minute video at the visitor center which explains…read morethe background of the geopolitical climate that prompted the construction of the reactor. It is the first large-scale nuclear reactor ever built, taking uranium and converting it into plutonium-239 (used in the Trinity test in New Mexico and the Fat Man bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan). Then there is a 45 minute bus ride to the B reactor itself (try to avail yourself of the restrooms at the visitor center, but there's a tour bus bathroom and port-a-potties at the reactor itself). The bus ride flew by as the docent talked about the area and his own experience as an engineer. Very engrossing. As you enter, there's another short presentation by a docent explaining the physics behind the reactor, and then you're set loose. There are also small docent-led presentations at specified times too if you want to get more into the nitty-gritty of the design and operation of the reactor. I wish I had more time at the reactor, maybe 15 more minutes, since there was so much to see and read. The exhibits were so well done!

    Definitely worth a visit, though most of the buildings that once were on the site at the height of…read moreHanford's operations are no longer there. Everything went on schedule as described. The bus is a comfy coach and the 45 minute ride to the actual Reactor B is enlivened by the tour guide's info about the history and geology of the area, as well as providing background on the construction and challenges of putting together the entire site so quickly. Free bottled water is provided at the site, and there's a good mix of short talks by guides (about 15 minutes or so each) and time to walk around, read info on exhibits, and take photos. Visitor Center is clean, with chairs inside for waiting as well as benches outside. Because we'd driven almost 3 hours to the site, we took advantage of a shady bench to have our lunch. The timing of the 11:45am tour means you'll want to get something to eat before setting off, because you won't return to the Visitor Center for about 4 hours (and there is no food to purchase at the Center, and no food allowed inside the Reactor B building). There is, however, a place to eat next door to the Visitor Center (The Dive) where I can at least confirm that the beer and onion rings are excellent. We got lucky and had a relatively cool (80 degrees) day. Bathrooms at the actual park site (the reactor) are limited to portable toilets, but again, all the info presented from registration to the actual tour were clear, informative, and well done.

    Photos
    Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours - Building where the tour starts.

    Building where the tour starts.

    Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours - Display of materials and parts in the reactor

    Display of materials and parts in the reactor

    Manhattan Project B Reactor Tours - Exterior of the reactor

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    Exterior of the reactor

    Wanapum Heritage Center - Entrance

    Wanapum Heritage Center

    5.0(5 reviews)
    48.4 mi

    The Wanapum Heritage Center conveys the beliefs and character of the Wanapum people. At the same…read moretime it preserves their history with rich oral histories and examples of their work to pass their beliefs and love of their land to their future generations. If you take the time to watch their video, take in the view of the river and surrounding areas, and hear their message you may also find a new and enlightened view of what the people and land around you stand for. It is a unique and effective approach. You won't regret a visit to this center which was funded by the Grant County PUD. One unique factor of the Wanapums is that they never signed a treaty, do not associate with a reservation and therefore do not qualify for the federal assistance provided on reservations. The center is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Stop in for a visit.

    I had a great visit and spent about an hour wandering through the Wanapum Heritage center. First of…read moreall, the building itself is a beautiful piece of architecture that's worth exploring just on its own. The nice lady, working at the front desk welcomed me and explained a few things to me that I would not have otherwise Known. The black-and-white photography by Carl Lewis of the dam project being built is outstanding. The part of the heritage Center dedicated to the Wanapum people is beautifully laid out and includes a theater with a 20 minute video. This is a great stop to make a part of your journey or to spend a few hours and bring a picnic to eat outside on a nice day.

    Photos
    Wanapum Heritage Center - Outside

    Outside

    Wanapum Heritage Center
    Wanapum Heritage Center

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    Kirkman House Museum - Tours, Events and Activities.

    Kirkman House Museum

    4.6(7 reviews)
    37.8 mi

    Can you believe this was gonna be demolished to be a freaking parking lot? LUCKILY, some good…read morecitizens of Walla Walla prevented this from happening, by saving the Kirkman House Museum and restoring it as a museum, to tell the story of the Kirkman Family. We visited the Kirkman House Museum, which was such a memorable part of our time in Walla Walla. Located downtown, it's an italianate-style, brick house that was built in the late 1800's, during when Walla Walla was the biggest city in the northwest! Designed and built by William Kirkman, he came to Walla Walla to make his fortune from the agricultural industry, becoming a well-established businessman in Walla Walla. The house later became an apartment building where they added on to it on the backside and another entrance, and then it was proposed to be demolished into a parking lot. Now, it serves as a museum, showcasing the Kirkman Family's lifestyle and contribution to Walla Walla, as well as the Adam West Library! In fact, that's how most of the museum gets visitors, for they come here to see Batman's corridors. Yes, the Batman/Adam West Library is really cool, especially because the bookcase slides and becomes a hidden wall where Batman slides down the pole! And it's awesome that the city of Walla Walla is so proud to have famous Walla Walla native, Adam West as their local hero, with memorabilia of his time in Batman and in Family Guy, in addition to his younger days at Lakeside School and so forth. (They even have an Adam West Day every year in town where everyone dresses up as Batman!) But I implore you to check out the other parts of the house, which I find more interesting. You get a real sense of what Walla Walla was like back in the day, based off the lifestyle of the Kirkman Family. There's even a room that shows old maps and pictures of what the city used to look like in the late 1800's when it was the most prosperous city in the area. The rooms are all decorated to that time period, and you can see some original furnishings that the family owned like the piano, photographs, decorative figurines, etc... Plus, Fanny Ann's room is haunted, so there's that. I hope for everyone to visit and support the Kirkman House Museum, which is a wonderful attraction site of this town. The non-profit that runs the museum is all volunteer-based. Admission is $7 and they do host fun events, like murder mystery dinners and Victorian tea time. A true charm to Walla Walla!

    What a surprisingly great find. We originally visited the museum due to the Batman exhibit we…read moreheard about. The Docent (Ms Priest?) was filled with wonderful insights and stories of the history of the Kirkmans and the community. The Batman exhibit was certainly good but the Kirkman story was mesmerizing. Well worth the time to stop in.

    Photos
    Kirkman House Museum - Rent the museum for your wedding or reception.

    Rent the museum for your wedding or reception.

    Kirkman House Museum - Victorian Teas

    Victorian Teas

    Kirkman House Museum - Kirkman House Museum Built in 1880

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    Kirkman House Museum Built in 1880

    Pendleton Underground Tours

    Pendleton Underground Tours

    4.6(65 reviews)
    41.5 mi

    I spent a couple of days in Pendleton and stumbled upon this on Yelp. Just a heads-up, you'll need…read moreto book a reservation because the groups tend to fill up quickly--we had 17 people in our group! This was definitely more than we were expecting! The tour was about 1.3 hours long, and you'll need to climb and descend stairs and squeeze into small spaces. If any of that sounds like a challenge, it might not be the right fit for you. Our tour guide was "BRAD," and he was amazing! He's practically "been there, done that." He grew up exploring these tunnels with his friends and has all sorts of stories to share. You'll learn a lot about the history and some simple sayings that will make you laugh and give you a deeper understanding. For example, there's a "Shoot" of whiskey! From the outside, you have no idea how huge this place is, and we only get to see a small part. Don't miss out if you get the chance. We'd definitely go back and bring a friend who hasn't seen it before.

    We signed up for the adults (21+) only tour which was $30 a person. It started in the shamrock…read moreunderground bar. The price of the ticket included a free drink token, 3 shots during the tour, and a sample of a local meat company. The tour was led by Matt and is meant for mature adults who don't get upset or offended by certain language. It was such a fun tour. Matt told us the history while making it fun throughout the whole 2 hour tour. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to add a little bit more fun to the tour.

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    Pendleton Underground Tours
    Pendleton Underground Tours
    Pendleton Underground Tours

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    Franklin County Historical Society - museums - Updated May 2026

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