So last weekend we went to the Hanford Site and took a tour.  This was spurred on by my reading Orchard of Eden: White Bluffs on the Colombia 1907-1943.  This was a fascinating book about the settlement and then condemnation of this area.  I found out that they are doing historic tours of the area and scheduled ours.  It started out at the Bruggeman Homestead.  It was a farm started by a German immigrant which was quite successful until they were evicted.  The craftsmanship of the rock building and the engineering if their irrigation system were impressive.

face on chimney

Bruggeman Homestead sign

clay pipe used for irrigation

range and fenceposts

inside Bruggeman building

Bruggeman rock wall

another chimney face

site of Bruggeman Home

Next we went by the B reactor (which has its own tour) and the entombed D reactors.

reactor B

entombed D reactors

We then went to the remains of the town of White Bluffs, where my book was based.  The only structure left is the bank which is being renovated to its earlier glory.

Milwaukee spur that brought the fruit to the market

white bluffs which were not white in the rain

White Bluffs ferry landing

First Bank of White Bluffs

bank ceiling

bank safe

gold leaf writing on safe

inside safe

Lucky beer can

electric wire

bank front door knob

sidewalk

old orchard

We then went to the town of Hanford.  The only structure still standing is the shell of the high school.

high school from side

Hanford townsite sign

Hanford High School

front door

High school sign

We passed by the last functioning reactor out of 8 on the way off the site.

last functioning reactor

The history of Hanford is fascinating, and this tour was as well.  And it is free.  I would highly recommend it.

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