On Friday, April 5, 2019, four journalism students at Washington State University drove from Pullman to Richland for the weekend to report on various aspects of the Hanford Site and its history in honor of the 75th anniversary. They took a tour of a nuclear reactor site, hunted for atomic-related art and spoke with all kinds of Richland locals to understand their pride and relation to the city’s history. Below are the stories they brought back with them.

A passion for atomic history displayed through art

By Latisha Jensen

It’s no secret that Richland locals are prideful of their hometown because of the Hanford site, and the bomb it created that ended World War II. A cafe named Bombshellz, Bombers as a high school mascot, a bowling alley called Atomic Bowl, and a brewery with atomic bomb beer names and themed decor is just the tip of the iceberg for this city’s patriotism. There are even sport teams with bomb-inspired team names and many Roller Derby team members have the bomb art displayed on their bodies as colorful tattoos. The city’s history is a major part of their culture and identity.

*The website’s header image is a photo of inside the B Reactor (Samantha Wilson, Murrow News Service).