Reach Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 2014 |
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| Location | 1943 Columbia Park Trail Richland, Washington |
| Type | History, natural history |
The Reach Museum, also known as the Hanford Reach Interpretive Center, is a cool place to visit in Richland, Washington. It's a special museum and visitor center for the Hanford Reach National Monument. The museum tells amazing stories about the history of the Hanford Reach area and the big Columbia River basin. It also helps people learn about science and nature, and encourages them to explore the region.
Before The Reach Museum opened, there was another museum called the Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology (CREHST). CREHST helped create what is now The Reach Museum. The Reach Museum officially opened its doors on July 1, 2014.
Contents
What You Can See at The Reach
The Reach Museum has lots to explore! It has two main exhibit areas, called galleries.
Discovering Local History
The first gallery tells the story of the Hanford Reach and the land around it. You can learn about how this area has changed over time. It's a great way to understand the past of the region.
The Hanford Site Story
The second gallery focuses on the early days of the Hanford Site. This site played a big part in the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project was a secret research and development project during World War II. It created the first nuclear weapons. The museum helps explain the site's role in this important historical event.
Special Exhibits and Activities
The museum also has a special exhibit that changes often. This rotating exhibit shares different local history stories. Outside, there's a stage where events and musicals take place. The center offers many educational activities. These include fun camps for kids and talks about current environmental topics. You can even go on special tours to interesting places nearby!
The Museum Building
The Reach Museum building is quite large. Its main floor is about 14,000 square feet. This space holds all the galleries, the changing exhibit, a big hall, and a gift shop.
Since opening in July 2014, about 70,000 people have visited the museum. By December 2015, the museum had worked with around 15,000 students. This shows how many people have learned from and enjoyed the museum.
It took more than 10 years to plan and build The Reach Museum. Construction on the building started in 2013.
