About this property
Experimental Breeder Reactor I ( EBR-I ) is a decommissioned research reactor and U.S. National Historic Landmark located in the desert about 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Arco, Idaho. It was the world's first breeder reactor. At 1:50 p.m. on December 20, 1951, it became one of the world's first electricity-generating nuclear power plants when it produced sufficient electricity to illuminate four 200-watt light bulbs. EBR-I soon generated sufficient electricity to power its building and the town of Arco, and continued to be used for experimental research until it was decommissioned in 1964.
Location
Federal Designation
The National Register of Historic Places, administered by the National Park Service, is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical, architectural, archaeological, engineering, or cultural significance. Listing on the National Register recognizes a property's importance to American history but does not place restrictions on private owners; it does, however, make properties eligible for federal historic preservation tax incentives and enables consideration in federal planning decisions. National Historic Landmark designation, the highest level of federal recognition, is reserved for properties that possess exceptional national significance in the history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture of the United States. This property is recorded in the National Register under reference number 66000307. It was listed on October 14, 1966.
Categories
Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Nearby Historic Sites
Questions about this property
When was Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 listed on the National Register?
Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.
What type of historic resource is Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1?
Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1?
The period of significance for Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1951.
Can I research the history near Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.