LIGO Hanford Observatory
A gravitational-wave detector in eastern Washington: a free drop-in exhibit hall Tuesday to Friday, and free guided tours (register first) on second Saturdays, March to November.
Ways to visit
LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits Open
- What you see
- Exhibits, Visitor centerligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- How
- Walk inligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- When
- MonTueWedThuFriSatSunTuesday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays; open Saturdays only on Second Saturday tour days.Closed: Sundays and Mondays, Saturdays, except Second Saturday tour days, Caltech holidays; the rest of 2026: November 26-27, December 25 and December 28-31ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Booking
- Not required · same day possible · on siteNo booking: drop in during open hours.ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Cost
- Freeligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Requirements
- Minimum age: No. Drop-in visitors of all ages are welcome.
Second Saturday public tour Seasonal
Staff may cancel a tour for excessive heat, bad weather or poor air quality.
- What you see
- Exhibits, Visitor center, View from outside, Inside tourligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- How
- Scheduled tour · about 60 minutesligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- When
- The second Saturday of each month, March to November; the next is Saturday, November 14, 2026. You pick a tour time when you register. Entry starts 15 minutes before your time, and tours leave from the Exploration Center (park in its lot or the overflow lot).Season: (The second Saturday of each month, March to November; next on November 14, 2026)Closed: December to FebruaryCalendar ↗ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Booking
- Required · onlineFree registration on Eventbrite is required. Tickets for the next tour open the Monday after the last one. Bring your ticket: you must show it to be admitted.Book (eventbrite.com) ↗ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Cost
- FreeRegistration is free.ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Requirements
- Minimum age: No. All ages are welcome; the talks suit ages 12 and up.
- Fitness and accessibility: Yes. A walk of just under a mile, about an hour, indoors and outdoors, with no seating along the way. The route meets ADA guidelines and is wheelchair accessible; contact the observatory if you need help.
- Photography: Yes. Photos are welcome; don't record or film staff without their permission.
Private group tour (15 or more) Open
- What you see
- Exhibits, Visitor center, View from outside, Inside tourligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- How
- Groups only, By arrangement · groups of 15+ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- When
- Weekdays, by arrangement.ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Booking
- Required · online or by email or by phoneRequest a tour with the form on the observatory's page, or by email or phone; allow up to two weeks for the request to be processed.Book (ligo.caltech.edu) ↗ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Cost
- Not stated on the official pageThe page doesn't give a price.ligo.caltech.edu, 2026-10-27
- Requirements
- None stated.
About
LIGO Hanford is one of the two observatories of the LIGO gravitational-wave detector, with two 4-kilometre arms on the Hanford Site north of Richland. Its LIGO Exploration Center (LExC) has interactive and static exhibits, video clips and artifacts from LIGO's history, including the Weber bar, one of the earliest devices built to detect gravitational waves. The Second Saturday tour adds a walk of just under a mile to the one spot where both arms are visible and to the control room, where staff who run the detector explain it. There's no food service on site, but you can bring your own and use the outdoor patio. No pets are allowed on Department of Energy land, except service animals. Groups of 15 or more can arrange a private weekday tour.
Getting there
127124 N. Rte. 10, Richland, WA, 99354
The pin marks the site itself, not necessarily the entrance (46.45514, -119.40767). Apple Maps directions go to the street address instead. Show on our map · Google Maps · Apple Maps
LIGO Hanford Observatory: (509) 372-8106 · outreach@ligo-wa.caltech.eduPrivate tours: (509) 372-8248 · outreach@ligo-wa.caltech.edu
Last checked 2026-10-27. Sources are listed below.
Sources
- visittri-cities.com/directory/ligo-hanford-observ… · official tourism or agency page · read 2026-10-26For: name
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q2553… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: location
- wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityData/Q5179… · Wikidata · read 2026-10-26For: Wikidata entry
- ligo.caltech.edu/WA/page/lho-drop-ins · official page · read 2026-10-27For: street address; phone and email; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: open or closed; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: what you see; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: kind of visit; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: days and hours; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: closures; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: booking; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: cost; LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: requirements
- ligo.caltech.edu/WA/page/lho-private-tours · official page · read 2026-10-27For: phone and email; Private group tour (15 or more): open or closed; Private group tour (15 or more): what you see; Private group tour (15 or more): kind of visit; Private group tour (15 or more): days and hours; Private group tour (15 or more): booking; Private group tour (15 or more): cost
- ligo.caltech.edu/WA/page/lho-public-tours · official page · read 2026-10-27For: LIGO Exploration Center drop-in visits: photo ID; Second Saturday public tour: open or closed; Second Saturday public tour: season; Second Saturday public tour: what you see; Second Saturday public tour: kind of visit; Second Saturday public tour: days and hours; Second Saturday public tour: booking; Second Saturday public tour: cost; Second Saturday public tour: how long it takes; Second Saturday public tour: requirements; Second Saturday public tour: fitness and accessibility; Second Saturday public tour: minimum age; Second Saturday public tour: photography; Private group tour (15 or more): requirements
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