Seventy years ago the United States dropped devastation, death and desolation on Japan demonstrating to the world truly terrible power by means of atomic energy. Less than a decade later, scientists in a small brick building in Idaho demonstrated that the same power, which destroyed two cities, could bring light to life and be used in times of peace. On December 20, 1951, scientists at Experimental Breeder Reactor – I were the first to produce electricity using atomic energy—making EBR-I the world’s first nuclear power plant.
Only three years after this experimental facility was decommissioned in 1963, President Johnson designated EBR-I a National Historic Landmark. Today, the Idaho National Laboratory, which surrounds and oversees the facility, continues its experiments in energy for the U.S. Department of Energy. EBR-I is free and open to the public seven days a week. Through a self-guided tour guests get a glimpse into how nuclear power is created, what makes it so great, and the risks involved.
I was fascinated by the whole thing: the control room, reactor, storage spaces, generators, and containment areas. Since the tour is self-guided you can go at your own pace looking at and touching additional stuff that isn’t discussed in the tour guide.
Highlights include:
Learning the origin of Scram
- Safety Control Rod Axe Man
- It is an acronym for the guy who held an axe at the ready to release the rod and end the nuclear reaction at the world’s first reactor if anything were getting out of hand.
- Using the remote handling devices
- They would use the arms to manipulate radioactive materials inside a containment box with 39-inch walls.
- It really reminded me of a video game and of the claw they used on space shuttles to do their work in orbit.
- see the video below of me using them
- Seeing the commemorative wall art from the scientists
- I love that those present were aware enough of what they accomplished to commemorate it in some way.
- I also love that one of them thought words on the wall was too boring, so he came up with an image to add.
- Look closely and you’ll see the pencil marks they sketched before using the chalk to make it more visible.
After touring EBR-I, be sure to check out the exhibit about EBR-II that demonstration how nuclear power could be safe and virtually waste-free. Unfortunately, three disasters all occurred around the same time creating fear and distrust of nuclear power and never gave the findings of EBR-II a chance in the U.S.
Outside the parking lot are two experimental aviation reactors. These relics come from a time when someone thought aircraft should be atomically fueled.
Though EBR-I is in the middle of nowhere, it could easily be a pit stop to or from Craters of the Moon National Monument, Sun Valley or Idaho Falls.
