So it's been a while since I've blogged about my expedition into the world of the Manhattan Project, but I have a LOT of updates so keep an eye out for some upcoming blogs. Let's start with a tour of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It's only open to the public one day a year on a Saturday in June during the Secret City Festival and tours run all day.
Here's the tricky part though, you have to sign up on the Y-12 complex's website, it isn't mentioned on any social platform. I found this out the hard way, when I thought I was staying on top of things! I had been following the Secret City Facebook page to see when the festival was going to happen, and then reached out to the Y-12 Complex via their Facebook page (yes, they have one) to find out where and when I could sign up for a tour. Their response, via Facebook, was that the link to register would be posted in the next week or two. Naturally I kept my eyes peeled, and when after two weeks nothing had been posted I reached back out to them again, only to be told that signups were full. When I inquired further that's when I discovered that it was only posted on their website. They gave me an option to be placed on a waiting list, which I did after explaining that I would be coming from 3 hours away and would be alone. Those seemed to be the magic words, because then they suddenly had a spot available for me.
Quick note, the Y-12 building was part of the Manhattan Project and was used to enrich uranium for the world's first atomic bombs that were used during WWII. You can read more on that here.
When you arrive you go to the Y-12 New Hope Center which is at the front of the complex and the only building accessible to the public. You will need your drivers licence, you must be a U.S. citizen, and you can't take anything else with you on the tour except your car keys. Depending on what time you arrive you'll have a little bit of time to check out some of the exhibits. If you want to come back and visit later you can on the American Museum of Science and Energy's (AMSE) tour. Which, by the way, is amazing and you can read about it here. Upon arrival you check in with military police and are given a pass, then directed to the back of the building where there are more military police with metal detectors. After you've been deemed compliant you exit the building and get on the bus. The bus is not wheelchair friendly, and has 3 or 4 steps.
The tour consists mostly of driving around the complex. There are two locations where you get out: one is at the top of a ridge for an aerial view of the complex, and the other is to go inside one of the buildings to see a calutron! Calutrons were used to electromagnetically separate uranium-235 from uranium-238 and you do not see one on the AMSE tour.
All in all this tour was worth all the hassle if you're into the Manhattan Project. If you aren't, I would recommend passing on this one. As it happens I was the only person on the tour who wasn't a local and at least half of the people on the tour were employees. Just think about that for a second.