Location: Oak Ridge
Top Things to do in Oak Ridge
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5 Museums in Oak Ridge That You Shouldn't Miss
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about 25 miles (40 km) west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 29,330 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Oak Ridge's nicknames include the Atomic City, the Secret City, the Ridge, and the City Behind the Fence.
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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory Visitor Center
2. Children's Museum of Oak Ridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By NorthCarolinaViolet
Interesting artifacts, in fact the building itself is a relic of the historic Secret City project, having been constructed as an elementary school. We are history buffs and love museums and we will visit here again hopefully bringing extended family to see where grand parents helped the war effort. Spacious, well done, pleasant place to linger and read the descriptive placards surrounding the exhibits. What luck we went in here - we almost didn't because the of the title "Children's" museum--but several other sites were closed. Don't miss it.
3. American Museum of Science & Energy
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 492 reviews
Reviewed By C0urtenayO - Palm Harbor, United States
Everyone was spectacular on the Department of Energy public bus tour of the three primary sites of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, TN - before, during and after. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and knew what they were doing. We got there at the recommended time to check in - 8:30AM. Natasha, in the gift shop (which is amazing), checked us in & put on our neon paper bracelets. Glenda, in the lobby, checked our photo IDs, & Gene, our 2nd tour guide on the bus, gave us photo release paperwork to sign. We posed for photos, and got on a very nice bus, which had comfortable seats & seatbelts. We waited until 9AM for a few folks who hadn't arrived yet. At 9AM, they hadn't arrived, and we were on our way. Be on time! For almost 3 hours Jerry (with Gene) shared with us the unique scientific history of the Secret City while visiting the Y-12 New Hope Center, ORNL's historic Graphite Reactor and the K-25 History Center. En route to each location, Jerry talked to us about the places we passed and each place before we arrived. At our first stop, Katheryn King was our tour guide at New Hope Center. We watched an award winning film. Then she asked for questions, like, "Why was it called Y-12?" She told us the name has no meaning. We walked around inside, seeing a map of other labs, a model of a thermonuclear bomb, glass cases with memorabilia, and more. Next stop was the X-10 Lab. Here we saw a simulated Graphite Reactor for Fuel Slugs. Up the stairs, after Jerry's audio presentation, was the Reactor Control Room. Last stop was the K-25 History Center. We saw a top secret film before listening to Jerry tell us more about this stop. Gene handed out "security passes" which could be inserted into different exhibits for more information on the screens. In one corner, they had a black & white photo exhibit of the "Mud Years,". Back at the museum, we bought items in the gift shop & then looked around museum. We loved the 3 D printed Jeep! when you go, you should have a good time - with or without the tour.
4. Southern Appalachia Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 13 reviews
5. Oak Ridge Art Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
