Atoms for Peace

Yesterday I stopped in Arco, ID. It was the first town to ever be powered by a nuclear reactor.

Down the road about 20 miles is the actual reactor, which has been preserved and is a National Historic Landmark. EBR-1 stands for Experimental Breeder Reactor. In the parking lot were 2 atomic jet engines, designed to power strategic bombers. But this program was dropped once ballistic missiles came online. Yay missiles!

Atomic engine

Arco was a very interesting and quirky town. There was a science park with a real conning tower from a nuclear submarine. I was given an excellent tour by a nuclear veteran, Richard. He'd worked at Rocky Flats and the Idaho National Laboratory.

Richard, proudly telling me about the virtues and history of nuclear power.

Richard, describing a deactivated cask used to transport radioactive waste.

A cask with a door cut in it.

Warnings. Another reactor is buried beyond the fence.

I didn't get all that far yesterday, only about 300 miles. Today I'm headed through the Tetons and Wyoming, and will hopefully put in some good miles.