September 27, 2016 WSU Tri-Cities hosts events celebrating National Park Service, Hanford Collection
RICHLAND, Wash. – Members of the public will have the chance to observe historical artifacts from the Hanford Site as part of an exhibition and open house at Washington State University Tri-Cities, which is being held in conjunction with a fundraising and centennial celebration night with the National Park Service.
WSU Tri-Cities will kick off its exhibition, “Preserving the Past: The History of DOE’s Hanford Collection,” from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in the WSU Tri-Cities Art Gallery. The exhibition, which runs through the end of October, will highlight a variety of artifacts that visually tell the story of the Hanford Site.
The next day, from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, the National Park Service will host a centennial celebration titled “Celebrating Old Friends and New Beginnings” at the Ste. Michelle Wine Estates WSU Wine Science Center. The event will also serve as a fundraiser and celebration of the establishment of the Manhattan Project National Historic Park. Proceeds from the event benefit the Hanford History Project and the Friends of the Manhattan Project National Historic Park. Tickets cost $60 and may be purchased by calling 509-372-7447. Those attending must be at least 21 years of age and dress is business casual.
“It will be a nice celebration of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary,” said Mike Mays, director of WSU Tri-Cities’ Hanford History Project. “It is also an opportunity to highlight one of the country’s newest national parks right here in the Tri-Cities: the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.”
Mays said the park is comprised of three historic sites that were crucial in the production of the atomic bombs in World War II: Hanford, Wash.; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; and Los Alamos, N.M. During the celebration of the park, there will be a silent auction, entertainment and some featured Washington wines.
WSU Tri-Cities will then host an open house for the Hanford Collection from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Oct. 1 at the university’s Innovation Center Building (ICB), 2892 Pauling Ave in Richland. During the open house, members of the public will have access to viewing many of the more than 4,000 artifacts that are being curated and archived as part of WSU Tri-Cities’ partnership and subcontract with the U.S. Department of Energy and Mission Support Alliance (MSA). Many of the artifacts have historically been inaccessible by the public for many years, but have since been cleared for public access. The event is free and open to the general public.
“The public is invited to come and take a look at the Hanford Collection and WSU Tri-Cities Hanford History Project’s new home during this kid-friendly event,” Mays said. “We will have guided tours of the facility so people can get a close look at the artifacts.”
“People will get a chance to see items that very few people have seen for many years, in addition to some items that were included with the CREHST Museum and other historical compilations that are now a part of the Hanford History Project collection,” Mays said.
For more information, visit tricities.wsu.edu/hanfordhistory or contact Mays at 509-372-7380 or michael.mays@tricity.wsu.edu.