Science Vacation at Idaho’s Experimental Breeder Reactor
February 28, 2008 by Mary Jo Manzanares
Filed under Things to See & Do
Vacations are not always about fun and games. Sometimes its also about culture and education. If you’re a fan of history and science, head off the beaten path to a little town in the Idaho desert by the name of Arco.
Arco is less than a square mile in size, with a population just over a thousand, but it made its mark on the world as the first city to be lit by nuclear power.
About 18 miles southeast of Arco is a deactivated research reactor. In 1951, Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-1) became the world’s first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. Although its first efforts produced only enough energy to light four 200-watt light bulbs, the output increased to eventually power the building and the nearby town.
The reactor was instrumental in a variety of experiments during the 1950’s, despite a partial meltdown in 1955. The plant was repaired and continued to be used for additional experiments until it was deactivated in 1964. About a year later it was declared a national historic landmark.
EBR-1 is open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 am – 5 pm. Guided and self-guided tours are available through the site and exhibits. Minimum age requirement for tours is 16, and all tour participants must be U.S. Citizens. There is no charge for admission.
For more information contact the EBR-1 Public Affairs Office: (208) 526-0050 or (800) 708-2680.
NOTE: Tours may be available at other times during the year by appointment.
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That’s a great idea. Made me think of other cool science places I’d like to visit, like CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory, in Switzerland:
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/god-particle/achenbach-text
I was disappointed to hear that visitors to the EBR-I site had to be at least 16… and none of the material published by the Idaho National Laboratory says that. So I contacted their tours director, who advised:
“The age and citizenship restrictions only apply to group tours of operating Idaho National Laboratory facilties. EBR-I does not fall under those restrictions — anybody and everybody is welcome to visit EBR-I during the summer months.”
So EBR-I is open to visitors regardless of age or citizenship status. Also open (as non-operational) are the two X-39 atomic aircraft engines, seen in the lower left of the photo. EBR-I itself is the building in the center back of the photo.
I’m looking forward to a visit with my 10-year-old this summer!
Glad to hear that! Nothing that I came across indicated that there was an age restriction.
This is a non-operating site,and is a great educational experience. There’s also some tremendous history along with the scientific significance, so I’m glad that you pushed the issue to get the correct information.
Have a great visit, and I’d love to hear what you thought of the site!