AN EPIC PAST COMES ALIVE

[HostDave]

History is an interesting concept. Once something has occurred, it is, by definition, now in the past. But depending on what that “something” happens to be, it is human nature to want to preserve it, protect it, honor it and remember it. Often, the things we want to remember and honor the most are achievements and, as we all know, there is no way to relive the exact moment that something occurs. Eventually, all the people associated with the event pass on and we are left with little to remind us of history.

But sometimes, the event is so important that it leaves behind tangible reminders in the form of buildings and machines. One of the things that we love about the Pacific Northwest is the incredible diversity of history that is on display. It is something that we know our guests will appreciate once the newest addition to our fleet, the elegant American Empress, begins her 9-day voyages along the Columbia and Snake rivers in April. Guests can follow the Walla Walla Wine Trail, discover the legacy of the Oregon Trail, walk in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark, see the impressive Bonneville Dam and, in Richland, WA, experience those last frantic days of World War II as America raced to build a weapon so overwhelming that Japan would surrender and the bloody invasion of the Japanese home islands would be avoided.

In each port of call, we pride ourselves on not just offering complimentary Hop-On, Hop-Off shore excursions that provide a comprehensive overview of a city, town or area but also optional adventures that explore a single topic or attraction in greater depth. In Richland, we offer a Premium Experience Excursion that allows our guests to experience the Hanford Research Facility. Built in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, the Hanford Research facility, also known as the Hanford Project and Hanford Works, is home to the B-Reactor. The first large scale plutonium production reactor in the world, the B-Reactor produced plutonium used in the atomic bomb detonated over Nagasaki five days before the end of World War II.

Tours first began in 2009 and since then, more than 35,000 people from all 50 states and over 60 countries have glimpsed history inside the facility. Interpretive items and historical displays help tell the story of the significance of the B-Reactor. While it might seem counter-intuitive to tour a nuclear reactor, the Department of Energy notes that it has “gone to great lengths to ensure that the facility is safe and that any potential hazards have been removed or sealed to prevent any contact with visitors. The facility is vigorously inspected prior to each tour to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit.”

The B-Reactor is notable because no one had ever built a nuclear reactor on such a large scale before and its construction and operation dipped firmly into the world of the theoretical. The design was an experimental one developed by Enrico Fermi and the reactor was built by Du Pont. When first operational, it could generate 250 megawatts of heat and contained 180 tons of uranium slugs. In the rush of wartime, the construction only took about a year, beginning in August of 1943 and ending in September of 1944. In just two months, it produced its first plutonium which was delivered to Los Alamos, NM in early 1945. Two more reactors came online soon after and plutonium shipments to New Mexico, where the atomic bomb was being developed, became a regular occurrence. The stockpile grew and enough material was created to fuel the world’s first atomic bomb which exploded over the barren desert in the famous Trinity test and, later, the Nagasaki bomb that finally ended the war.

Interestingly, the workers who toiled at Hanford during the war had no idea what the ultimate goal of the B-Reactor’s plutonium really was. It’s reported that 99 out of every 100 workers knew only that what they were doing was top secret and vital to the war effort. When the atomic bomb exploded above Hiroshima - utilizing plutonium from a facility in Oak Ridge, TN – the importance of the work being done at Hanford became apparent.

Much of the technology used in nuclear power plants was pioneered at Hanford. Challenges ranged from cooling and controlling the nuclear reaction to removal and storage of radioactive material. Today, the Hanford Research Facility is a physical reminder of the dangerous and controversial work undertaken by a dedicated team of scientists whose only goal was to create a weapon so deadly that it would end not just World War II but the concept of warfare entirely. And they did so under extraordinary time pressures to make certain that America would be the sole owner of these weapons. Had they failed and the Germans or Japanese successfully built an atomic bomb instead, history might be very different, indeed.

The American Empress begins her inaugural season in less than two months and there is still some space available on her early voyages. If you make your reservations and pay-in-full before March 31, 2014, you can take advantage of one of two extraordinary offers. Choose to save up to $400 per stateroom* on any voyage from June through October, 2014 or instead select a two-category upgrade** on any 2014 departure of the American Empress in the Pacific Northwest or the American Queen on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers in 2014.

* Book by March 31, 2014, pay-in-full and Save $400 per stateroom ($200 per person) on any 2014 June-October American Empress voyage. Full payment is required at time of booking to redeem this offer. Offer expires on March 31, 2014. This offer cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts; not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations. Savings are only on the price of the cruise, not valid on taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Promotional fares and amenities are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and category of accommodations and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include air or land transportation. Port Charges of $69 to $159 per person are additional and not included in the fare. Additional terms and conditions may apply – call for details.

** Offer expires March 31, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Estimated savings of up to $3200 ($1600 per person) is based on double occupancy for a standard American Queen 9 day voyage. Offer is not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations and cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts. The free 2 cabin category upgrade means that guests will be placed in cabin(s) that are 2 sequential categories above initial cabin(s) requested at time of reservation. This offer is not valid on cabin upgrades into American Queen categories LS, AAA, SO and SI; and American Empress categories LS, A and CS. This offer is based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Cruise fare does not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details