Tag Archives: EBR-1

SmarterEveryDay @ EBR-1

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Destin Sandlin of the Smarter Every Day YouTube channel recently visited the EBR-1 outside Arco, Idaho. As Atomic Tourists, we wanted to share his video.

Destin goes on a tour of the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR-1) with the Idaho National Laboratories. In addition, as an engineer and science communicator, he provides a great explanation of nuclear power and specifically a breeder reactor.

As a reminder, the EBR-1 is a National Historic Landmark where usable electricity was first generated in 1951. The facility is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, every day from 9am to 5pm, for self-guided tours. Usually, during Atomic Days in Arco (third weekend in July), INL volunteers are are on hand to answer questions and provide guided tours.

Self-guided tour brochure:

EBR-I_Self_guided_Tour_loDownload

SL-1 Memorial Plaque

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SL-1 Memorial Plaque at the EBR-1 Atomic Museum

New this year at the EBR-1 on U.S. 20/26 between Arco and Idaho Falls, ID, is a memorial plaque to honor the three men who died in January 1961 at the Stationary Low Power Reactor (SL-1).

Thanks to Joe Tokarz for sending us these pictures of the new memorial during his visit on May 15. In Joe’s words:

Thank you to the DOE & INL for their support in making the SL-1 Memorial a reality. Bring a chair. It is a perfect location for quiet contemplation of the sacrifices made by Byrnes, McKinley, and Legg and the lessons we learned. All gave some. Some gave all.

The EBR-1 Atomic Museum is open from Friday, May 27, through Labor Day, September 5, for the 2022 season. It’s open every day, and the museum is open from 9am-5pm for self-guided tours. The new memorial plaque is in the parking lot between the transport train and the aircraft engines.

For more information on the SL-1 accident, visit: SL-1 Accident Briefing Report 1961, SL-1 at Wikipedia, CE1 Richard Carlton Legg, SP5 John Arthur Byrnes III, and SP4 Richard Leroy McKinley.