Accessibility

Guided tours of Manhattan Project sites offer some accessibility accommodations.

NPS

Accessibility at Our Park

Park Facilities and Community Sites: Most park facilities are on land that is owned and operated by the US Department of Energy and are located on secure Department of Energy Sites. There is limited public access, mostly via seasonal guided tours. There are also some park facilities located in the communities surrounding these sites that are owned and operated by private organizations. As you plan your visit, please contact individual points of interest directly for information on accessibility, hours of operation, and fees.

Service Animals: Service animals are not subject to the park's pet policies and, when accompanying an individual with a disability, they are allowed wherever park visitors are allowed. NPS policy defines a service animal as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability. The tasks performed by the animal must be directly related to the person’s disability.

In accordance with the NPS policy, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the person’s disability prevents use of these devices. In those cases, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective means.

More information about the NPS service animal policy is available on the Service Animals in National Parks webpage.

 

Accessibility Information by Site

Accessibility in Hanford

Hanford Visitor Center: The Hanford Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible. The facility is managed by the Department of Energy. Contact them at 509-376-1647 for additional information on accessibility. 

Department of Energy Guided Tours: On the Department of Energy B Reactor and Pre War Historic Sites tours, visitors must be able to walk short distances on uneven surfaces and sit in a passenger bus for 45 minutes at a time. The Department of Energy offers wheelchair accessible buses and sign language interpretation for these tours by request. Requests must be made at least two weeks in advance by emailing B Reactor tours or calling 509-376-1647. 

3-D Tactile Map: Covering the B Reactor tour path, the 3-D tactile map is primarily designed for blind and partially sighted users to gain a spatial understanding of the B Reactor. The map is available upon request at the visitor center for use on the B Reactor tours.  

Audio Description Tour of the B Reactor: This feature is available through the NPS app under my settings. Tour is designed to assist blind and low vision visitors with navigating and experiencing the B Reactor while on a public tour.  

Exhibit Panel Descriptions: Text and descriptions of each exhibit panel in the Atomic Culture Room, Health Physics Room, and History Room within the B Reactor are available on the park website and in the NPS app. Braille is available for the Haiku for You magnetic word interactive exhibit.

Ranger Programs:  Sign language interpreters are available for ranger programs with two weeks advance notice. This length of time and specificity is needed because we contract for this service. Please email the park at e-mail us for more information and to request this service.   

Park Film: The park orientation film, Hanford Made, is available for viewing in the visitor center and includes open captions. An audio described version of Hanford Made is available on-line.  

Hanford Junior Ranger Book: The Hanford Junior Ranger book is online and can be read with a screen reader. Copies of the book are also available in the visitor center. 

NPS App: Some of the places featured on the NPS app include audio descriptions that provide a detailed verbal description of important Manhattan Project sites, making these places accessible to those with visual impairments.  

Access Pass: The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). This pass provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. Manhattan Project National Historical Park does not issue passes. Learn more about how to obtain the Access Pass.

Accessibility in Los Alamos

NPS App: Some of the places featured on the NPS app include audio descriptions that provide a detailed verbal description of important Manhattan Project sites, making these places accessible to those with visual impairments. 

Department of Energy Guided Tours: On the guided tour of Los Alamos National Laboratory, participants must be able to walk short distances, stand for 30 minutes, climb stairs, and traverse over uneven surfaces. One of the historic properties on the tour has stairs, so it is not wheelchair accessible. The stairs and uneven terrain could create hazards for participants with vision impairments. Contact Los Alamos National Laboratory at 505-667-6277 for information about accommodations. 

Kwage Mesa Trail Wayside: Six waysides along the Kwage Mesa Trail share the natural and cultural history of the surrounding area. Full text and a description of each wayside is available on the park website and in the NPS app.   

Access Pass: The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). This pass provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. Manhattan Project National Historical Park does not issue passes. Learn more about how to obtain the Access Pass. 

Accessibility in Oak Ridge

Park Film: The park film is available for viewing in the visitor center and includes open captions. 

Oak Ridge Junior Ranger Book: The Oak Ridge Junior Ranger book is available online and can be read with a screen reader. 

Department of Energy Guided Tours: The Department of Energy’s guided tours of Manhattan Project sites in Oak Ridge are wheelchair accessible. Requests for wheelchair access must be made two days in advance. For more information on wheelchair accessibility on guided tours, please visit the American Museum of Science & Energy’s bus tour page or call 865-294-4517. 

Audio Description Tour of the X-10 Graphite Reactor: This feature is available through the NPS app under my settings. Tour is designed to assist blind and low vision visitors with navigating and experiencing the X-10 Graphite Reactor while on a public tour.  

NPS App: Some of the places featured on the NPS app include audio descriptions that provide a detailed verbal description of important Manhattan Project sites, making these places accessible to those with visual impairments. 

Waysides around Oak Ridge: There are more than 30 waysides throughout Oak Ridge that tell the story of the Manhattan Project. The full text and a description of each wayside is available on the park website and in the NPS app.   

Access Pass: The Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability). This pass provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies. Manhattan Project National Historical Park does not issue passes. Learn more about how to obtain the Access Pass.