REACH Museum highlights Latino migration stories

RICHLAND — The National Park Service and REACH Museum have collaborated on a new exhibit, “Migration to Community: Latinos/as at Hanford and the Tri-Cities,” according to an announcement from the museum. It will be open for viewing Feb. 4-March 22. 

Many people in Tri-Cities have origin stories that include migration, family, hard work, and community, the museum wrote. Coming from all over the world and the nation, Latinos/as have contributed their unique skills to the Manhattan Project, Hanford and the Tri-Cities. 

The exhibit highlights how the Manhattan Project recruited a small group of Latinos/as to Hanford to support the war effort and about their experiences building a community in a segregated society, according to the announcement. It also shares the early development of a permanent Spanish-speaking community in the area and highlights the contributions Latinos/as have made to the legacy of Hanford. These stories reflect the lives of many people who helped build a place that hundreds of thousands call home today. 

The exhibition was organized by the National Park Service and curated by Drew Gamboa, Latino Community Outreach Intern for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, according to the announcement. 

A reception will be held Feb. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. with a panel discussion 5:30-6:30 p.m. led by Gamboa. The public is invited to attend.  Admission for single-entry visits is $12 for adults, $6 for students, seniors and military and free for children 56 and under. Attendees are asked to RSVP by Jan. 31 by calling 509-943-4100 ext. 103 or by emailing BritaniaM@VisittheREACH.us. 

The REACH Museum is located at 1943 Columbia Park Trail, Richland. More information can be found at https://visitthereach.us.