tour a power plant

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Niagara Parks Power Station

Power Station at Night

From the most towering turbine to the tiniest detail, uncover fascinating stories hidden within the historic Niagara Parks Power Station, our newest must-see attraction. Descend 180 feet in a glass-paneled elevator and explore the 2,200-foot long tunnel, leading to an observation deck at the river's edge.

Explore the first major power plant on the Canadian side of the Niagara River with immersive exhibits, restored artifacts and interactive storytelling. And at night, feel the once-dormant power station come to life in a breathtaking interactive experience you'll never forget.

Inside the Power Station

This not-to-be-missed experience offers an opportunity to be part of a thrilling revival, and a chance to discover the incredible history and heritage of this celebrated building. Dive into the history of the visionaries behind it as well as the workers that kept it running for 100 years.

Harnessing the powerful energy of the Horseshoe Falls, this pioneer of hydropower comes back to life with entertaining and educational experience that highlights both the remarkable history and unique architectural features of this 115-year-old engineering marvel.

The Science of Power

Repurposed artifacts, interactive exhibits and fascinating installations offer a first-hand look at how this hydropower pioneer harnessed the power of water to generate electricity for 100 years. You’ll “follow the flow” up close with a scale model of the plant, walk through a life-size penstock, test your hydropower knowledge at our interactive control panel, and more!

For an additional cost, add a fascinating guided tour of the main generator floor with one of our expert interpreters. Please note that the tunnel is a self-guided experience only.

Self-Guided Audio Tour

Feel history come to life with a brand-new bilingual audio tour that will take you deeper into Niagara’s incredible story of power. Uncover fascinating historical narratives from former employees, technical details and captivating stories about the evolution of the Niagara Parks Power Station!

Included with general admission, this immersive audio tour will be your knowledge companion as you journey through this astonishing feat of human engineering.

The Tesla Coil

Experience the awe-inspiring power of electricity at the Niagara Parks Power Station with our spectacular Tesla coil demonstration. This electrifying display is preformed at the end of every guided tour, illuminating the historic station with dazzling arcs of lightning.

The Tesla coil, a marvel of early 20th-century technology, demonstrates the raw and captivating force of high-voltage electricity, displaying a mesmerizing light show that dances through the air, and can even create music. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to witness the convergence of history, science, and sheer power in a truly unforgettable performance.

The Power Station's Underground Experience

Uncover a new underground experience from 180 feet beneath the halls of the Niagara Parks Power Station with the all-new tunnel experience, included with regular admission. Find out how this remarkable 2,200-foot-long tunnel was excavated with only lanterns, rudimentary dynamite, pickaxes and shovels. Then, step out onto a new observation deck at the river's edge.

Get unprecedented access to the power station after dark with an all-new nighttime experience!

The beautifully lit grounds of the main generator hall will unveil never-before-shared details of the power station’s phenomenal history with new multimedia storytelling and flexible screenings of Currents , an epic sound and light show. Then, come face-to-face with one of the world’s most legendary natural wonders from an observation platform at the edge of the Niagara River–the illuminated Horseshoe Falls await!

The Power Station at Night experience is available daily from 7:00 until 10:00 p.m.

In the News

A HUGE TUNNEL HAS OPENED BELOW NIAGARA FALLS

"A whitewater wonder visited by everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Mark Twain, Niagara Falls has been a magnet drawing global travelers for at least two centuries. But until this year, a huge tunnel buried deep below the cascade has been off-limits to visitors."

EXPLORING A TUNNEL DEEP BELOW NIAGARA FALLS

"Turbines that once harnessed the powerful energy of Niagara Falls into a great source of electricity came to a halt years ago. But the secrets deep below the power station are coming to life once again. Visitors can now explore the former cathedral of power and a tunnel that opens to a spectacular view of the falls."

A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON NIAGARA FALLS

"Canada’s first major hydroelectric power station is the newest major tourist attraction on the Canadian side of the falls. Amid a sea of commercialized activities that include zip lines, casinos and a climate-controlled SkyWheel, the Niagara Parks Power Station offers visitors a unique perspective of one of the world’s most famous natural wonders."

NIAGARA FALLS' NEWEST ATTRACTION

"Niagara Falls’ newest attraction, Niagara Parks Power Station, offers visitors a closer look at its historical power."

The Full Power Station And Tunnel Experience

Experience the full Niagara Falls power story with the Niagara Parks Power Pass! This Pass includes day time admission and the all new night time experience. Gain access to the station's exhibits and travel 180 feet below in a glass-lined elevator before exploring the 2,200-foot-long tunnel leading to the river's edge. Then, return to the Power Station at Night for Currents, the sound and light show that transforms the heart of the station into an interactive event that outlines the impressive history of this cathedral of power. During the evening the Tunnel remains open allowing access to see the falls illuminated in a way that has never been seen before.

Power Station Day Hours

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The Power Station at Night experience is available from 7pm until 10pm each day.

REGULAR ADMISSION

ADMISSION + GUIDED TOUR

2 & UNDER

7005 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T2

We’re here to help

The Niagara Parks Power Station is located at 7005 Niagara Parkway, Niagara Falls, Ontario, between Table Rock Welcome Centre and the Floral Showhouse. Please note that when using GPS devices, searching by exact address may lead to inconsistent results on some devices. [Get Directions]

That Niagara Parks Power Station is open daily for general admission and guided tours. The power station reopens nightly for the Currents: Niagara's Power Transformed show. Please see hours of operation for more details.

Daily parking passes are also available for purchase that include unlimited parking at a number of Niagara Parks parking lots. Learn More .

A 2,200-foot tunnel winds through the depths of the power station, 180 feet underground. It expelled the spent waters used in the power station back into the Niagara River, at the base of the falls. Visitors are now able to travel down beneath the main generating hall to discover the Tunnel at the Niagara Parks Power Station, culminating in a never-before-seen view of the Falls at the newly built platform.

Yes, the Niagara Parks Power Station is fully accessible. There are benches located throughout the power station, as well as a wheelchair available for use inside on a first-come, first-serve basis.

A Niagara Parks attraction ticket provides a one-time entry into the attraction. If you would like to leave and come back, either later that day or another day, Niagara Parks does offer Annual Attraction Passes that provide unlimited admission to participating Niagara Parks attractions. More information can be found here or by inquiring at the attraction.

No, admission tickets are valid for one entry only. We recommend planning for a two-hour experience if you wish to explore the Tunnel during your visit to the power station.

Yes, all tickets and packages for the Niagara Parks Power Station can be purchased in-person at the power station. However, visitors are reminded that purchasing tickets in-person is subject to availability.

Guided tours are available for an additional fee and include fascinating expanded storytelling and interpretation throughout the main generator floor. Please note that the tunnel is a self-guided experience only.

Yes. Tickets for guided tours can be pre-booked online or in-person at the power station. General admission tickets do not have to be pre-booked.

Yes, the Niagara Parks Power Station is open year-round. Please note, due to safety reasons, access to the viewing platform and/or tunnel experience at the station may be limited during inclement weather.

Still have questions about planning your trip to Niagara Parks?

AWAY YOU GO!

The following items have been added to your itinerary:.

Niagara Parks Power Station

Power Station + Guided Tour

Power station admission, niagara parks power pass, niagara parks power pass with guided tour, power station at night, related listings, niagara parks, botanical gardens, table rock house restaurant, floral showhouse, table rock centre.

Las Vegas Hoover Dam Classic Tour

Hoover Dam Bus Tour Details

• Tour Includes
• Please Note

Tour Includes:

• Includes Generator Room and Hoover Dam Visitor Center.
• Breakfast snack and bottled waters included.
• Separate tour guide and driver on every tour providing excellent guest service
• Approximately 7+ hours.

Please Note:

• All prices are subject to change without notice.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours from the start of the tour.
• We DO NOT use a check-in terminal; we leave directly after hotel pickups.
• There are no additional fees on the day of the tour.
• No fuel surcharge.
• Times are approximate and are subject to change.
• Pick-ups start at 5:00 AM.
• The loading and unloading of walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters will be the responsibility of the passenger and the company will not be liable for any damages that may occur to the item in the bus compartment.

2024 Tour Itinerary:

• 7:00 AM begin pickups
• Photograph the Hoover Dam and the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
• Learn key historical facts of how the Hoover Dam and Memorial Bridge were made
• Arrive back in Las Vegas from your tour shortly after noon

P.S. – All times are approximate and are subject to change.

Are food and beverages included in the Hoover Dam tour?

On our day trip to the Hoover Dam, a light breakfast snack is included. The water it’s on us. All you can drink!

Is a gratuity expected?

Tips are accepted and appreciated for a job well done. We suggest a 10% tip minimum, which is industry standard.

What items should we bring?

Bring your camera to capture and preserve beautiful memories. A government-issued photo ID is required for all flight tours. Other helpful things to bring are beverages with a screw-on cap, sunscreen, sunglasses and cash or credit cards if you’re planning to purchase anything such as souvenirs!

What should we wear?

We recommend comfortable walking shoes, and, for the summer months, wear sunblock and hats for protection. Dressing in layers is also suggested as summer monsoon storms are common. For the winter months, dress in warm clothing.

What is your cancellation policy?

We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours from the start of the tour. Cancellations received less than 24 hours from the start of the tour will not be refunded. To be considered for a refund, please email  [email protected] .

Are there any additional fees or surcharges?

There is no fuel surcharge, and there are no other charges on the day of the tour.

Book Today!

Las vegas hoover dam tour description, taking a hoover dam classic tour.

Las Vegas Hoover Dam tours are one of a kind. Of all the guided tours, the Hoover Dam classic tour is one that cannot be bypassed by anyone visiting Las Vegas. This short day-trip offers plenty in the way of sights and attractions. A major feat of engineering, the Hoover Dam is one landmark that simply cannot be ignored. You will find this day trip from Las Vegas to be both entertaining and engaging.

A Memorable Adventure

Taking this tour, you will learn more about the dam through commentary from our professional travel guides that are both interactive and engaging. You can get round-trip Las Vegas Hoover Dam transportation from or near your hotel in Vegas for the one-hour drive. By taking this all-inclusive tour, you can also experience a one-time unique photo adventure. The tour includes a powerplant journey down the walls of the surrounding Black Canyon. With complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off, there is no reason not to add this adventure to your 2020 Las Vegas itinerary.

The standard Grand Canyon tour companies use a driver and tour guide in one. This person then has to check guests in, narrate the tour, pass out lunches, answer questions, and drive a 40,000 pound vehicle safely. At Grand Canyon Destinations, we value safety and customer service. That is why we have a separate driver and tour guide on every tour bus. Your dedicated tour guide will be there to guide you, share facts and stories, answer your questions, and help you with any needs throughout the tour.

Taking A Las Vegas Hoover Dam Trip

Once you leave your Las Vegas hotel, you will climb aboard one of our climate-controlled comfortable tour buses. At this point, you will get to know your guide and driver, both who are friendly and professional. Tour guides will give you a brief overview of the Hoover Dam’s history through an enlivening and interesting introduction. Your tour guide will be there to lead you every step of the way as well as answer all your questions during the tour.

Your Las Vegas Hoover Dam tour will stop at many picturesque stops so you can take some great pictures to upload to Facebook and Instagram . Hoover Dam tours, when taken from the Las Vegas strip, are always fun and eventful. We can help you plan a perfect day trip adventure or a longer travel excursion at your convenience. Just tell us what you would like to plan for your day trip and travel itinerary. We will do all that we can to make your trip the happy and memorable experience you are looking for.

Visiting The Hoover Dam

All Hoover Dam tours begin in Las Vegas. You will be picked up at your Las Vegas hotel and make the one-hour drive to the Hoover Dam. Along the way, your dedicated tour guide will share interesting history and stories with you about the surrounding Las Vegas area.

Once you arrive, you will start your adventure at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center. There, you can acclimate yourself to the enormity of the structure and the place. Situated between Lake Mead and the Colorado River, the Hoover Dam is located just one hour from the Las Vegas Strip. The Hoover Dam is one of our most popular Las Vegas tours due to its close proximity to the city. This national historic landmark allows visitors to see the internal and external workings of the dam along their tour.

ARRIVING AT THE HOOVER DAM

The Hoover Dam is located only a one hour drive from Las Vegas, and you will arrive at your destination in no time. Hoover Dam hours are generally 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Therefore, your tour will begin around the opening hours of the dam. Starting at the Hoover Dam Visitor Center and the Generator Room, you will be on your way. This will be your first look at the mighty Hoover Dam. Lasting about two hours, you will be guided around the Hoover Dam site as well as below it to the Hoover Dam power plant. You will  learn about the construction of the dam , the history of it, its effect on surrounding areas, and how the dam affects modern-day operations in Las Vegas and far beyond.

WHAT YOU WILL SEE ON A LAS VEGAS HOOVER DAM TOUR

Your  Las Vegas Hoover Dam  power plant tour experience will lead you 530 feet underground via elevator to the Penstock Viewing Platform. Here you will witness gigantic pipes measuring 30 feet in diameter that transport the hundreds of thousands of gallons of water each day from Lake Mead to the dam’s generators. Short films and displays along the tour give guests extended information into the workings of the Hoover Dam to help visitors understand the sites they are seeing.

Following this, guests are guided to a room where they will see eight of the 17 powerplant generators used to create energy from the Hoover Dam. Next, you will travel back up to ground level for the remainder of the tour which includes interactive exhibits and full-scale models. This museum will give you a deeper understanding of the Hoover Dam project, its construction, and operation. For example, the Hoover Dam once went by the name Boulder Dam.

The tour then continues with outside displays and exhibits that will take you around Hoover Dam and along the top of the dam as well to really get the full view. Here, you will be able to see the most up-close look of the dam, as well as Lake Mead and the Colorado River all in one view. After concluding the Hoover Dam portion of the tour, your comfortable bus will return. Then you will continue on with the rest of the tour.

HOOVER DAM BYPASS BRIDGE 

After going on top of and underneath the dam, you will visit the Pat Tillman- Mike O’Callaghan Memorial Bridge for a different view. You will get to see the Hoover Dam and Colorado River from above—a truly spectacular view. Following your walk out onto the bridge, your driver and guide will then take you to the Lake Mead Overlook. This viewpoint is located about 20 minutes away and allows you to see a breathtaking view of Lake Mead. Once you have soaked in the views of the lake, the bus will drive you back to Las Vegas and return you at your same pickup location.

The Las Vegas Hoover Dam Experience

Visitors get to take pictures of Lake Mead from the Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. While you might travel there by car and find parking lots and a space at a parking garage, it can be a hassle. It is much better to arrange private tours and a power plant tour of the Hoover Dam by contacting Grand Canyon Destinations. Our Hoover Dam tours are both informative and stress-free.

Arranging A Full Hoover Dam Tour

Not only will you get to see Lake Mead during your bus tour, you can also take in breathtaking views of the Colorado River and the surrounding landscape from the top of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Black Canyon, which lies below the Hoover Dam, is one amazing natural attraction. The canyon was formed from volcanic activity that took place over millions of years. As a result, the walls of the canyon ascend almost 2,000 feet from the edge of the Colorado River.

As Exciting As Vegas Itself

Any tour from the Las Vegas Strip will be as exciting as Vegas itself. Whether you choose to see the Hoover Dam, the South Rim , or West Rim of the Grand Canyon. Each destinations has its own wonders and amazing sites to see.

For example, when you visit Hoover Dam and the visitor center, you will get a briefing about the national historic landmark. This structure, which is part of the walking tours we provide, was a brainchild of the Bureau of Reclamation. Our travel guides can fill you in on all the historic details while you visit the dam. The Bureau of Reclamation is an agency of the US government that is responsible for water resource management. Its role in the history of the Hoover Dam made it possible to extend irrigation and electrical power over a broader area in the southwest region.

Making Travel Plans From Las Vegas

If you want to beat the crowds and arrange you Hoover Dam tours ahead of time, we can make it happen at Grand Canyon Destinations. You can count on convenience with us. To start and end your tour, you will be picked up and dropped off conveniently at one of the hotels in Las Vegas. Any of our Hoover Dam tours make it possible for you to see the Hoover Dam or surrounding landscape in one of various ways.

Your tour guide will give you interesting details and information along the way when you go on one of the Las Vegas Hoover Dam tours. There are so many interesting facts you may not know about the Hoover Dam. For instance, the Hoover Dam is 726 feet in height, which is higher than the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas or the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Around 20,000 cars and trucks drive over the top of the dam each day between the borders of Arizona and Nevada. Also, the dam is built with enough concrete to construct a two-lane highway from Seattle to Miami.

More Fun Facts About The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam, during peak hours, generates electricity with enough water to fill 15 average-sized swimming pools in a mere second. Also, each of the penstocks or water pipes in the power plant transport enough water to fill 900 100-gallon tubs in a second. That is enough water to fill 960,000 12-ounce aluminum soda cans in a second.

When you go through the Las Vegas Hoover Dam experience, you will see that the dam is shaped in the form of a curved axe. It is 45 feet in width at the top and 660 feet thick on the bottom. Also, Lake Mead is incomparable when it comes to reservoirs. The reservoir, which is the largest in the US, contains enough water to flood the state of New York in a foot of water.

Colorado River Provides Water To The West

Have you drunk water at Disneyland or Sea World? If so, that water has been supplied from Lake Mead and the Colorado River, both located about 300 miles away.

Each of the 17 generators that operate at the Hoover Dam supply power to 100,000 households. When they are running at full power, the generators can supply all the electrical needs of an area or a city of around three-quarter of a million people. Each generator that is used weighs in at about four million pounds, which is equal to 4.5 full 747-400 Boeing planes.

When you take one of the Hoover Dam tours, you will see the last resting place of the favorite pet and mascot dog of the workers who built the dam. This canine was not a one-man dog, but a faithful companion to all the construction crew at the time. Known as, “The Dog of the Dam” this black shepherd who would warn supervisors if it saw a worker or equipment mishap. The slab and last resting place is located at Old US Highway 93 in Boulder City, Nevada.

An Explosive Beginning

When the dam was built, every state in the US supplied building materials for the construction of the power structure. Dynamite in the amount of 8 1/2 million pounds was used to blast the base for the dam and its eight miles of tunnels.

If you choose to go on one of the Grand Canyon tours or directly to the dam itself, Grand Canyon Destinations makes the experience both easy and convenient. It is completely up to you how much time you want to spend at a location. We make it easy by providing the right suggestions for tour packages.

One of our Las Vegas Hoover Dam tours includes tours tickets and advice and information from our friendly and helpful travel guides. You can see views of Lake Mead from various angles at the dam site. When you visit the Hoover dam, we will begin your tour at the visitor center. Walking tours can be arranged anytime during the year.

What To Expect On A Tour

When you travel with Grand Canyon Destinations, any of our Hoover Dam tours will permit you to view the dam from approximately 900 feet over the Colorado River. As a Hoover Dam visitor, you can walk over the Mike O’Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. From this vantage point, you can also see the Lake Mead Visitor’s Center when leaving the landmark. You can also view historic Boulder City, which is known as the town that was responsible for building the dam.

You may wonder if the Hoover Dam tours we offer are wheelchair accessible or if you can use a stroller during the tour. The answer to both these questions is yes. Therefore, most people can participate in our Hoover Dam tours. You can also rent a wheelchair, if necessary, while visiting the dam.

See The Hoover Dam On More Las Vegas Tours

While you are in Las Vegas, you can see a number of sites surrounding the Las Vegas Strip. For example, you can visit Red Rock Canyon, the Hoover Dam, or the West Rim of the Grand Canyon.

We make any day trip from Las Vegas a one-of-a-kind experience. That is why our Hoover Dam tours are popular and a favorite of Las Vegas hotel visitors. Will you be staying at one of the hotels in Las Vegas? If so, contact us about Hoover Dam tours today. We will explain what is included in each of the bus tours we offer.

How You Can Contact Us

You can contact us about Hoover Dam tours by phone or email or on our website’s contact form . Phone us at our toll-free number at 866-717-TOUR (8687) or email us at [email protected] . We are here from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm each day of the week. Therefore, we can help you with your trip planning to canyon locations and the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

When you take one of our Las Vegas Hoover Dam tours to get the Hoover Dam experience, you can choose from custom and private tours to the regularly featured tours on our website. If you don’t have much time, our all-inclusive Las Vegas Hoover Dam Classic tour is what you should choose. This tour makes learning about the Hoover Dam fun and entertaining. Additionally, it does not take too much time away from your Las Vegas activities.

Tour the World’s First Nuclear Power Plant

The historic site in a remote desert is now a museum where visitors can see the instruments that made nuclear history

Michele Lent Hirsch

With nothing but tufts of sagebrush lining the road, it could be a normal drive through southwest Idaho. But as the car continues along the narrow strip, it enters a  900-square-mile federal testing site  called the  Idaho National Laboratory . The large swath of land, with almost no visible buildings, soon starts to feel like some top-secret area out of  Men in Black . Where are Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, and where are they hiding the aliens? Eventually, the car reaches a building that’s open to the public—Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1: the  world’s first nuclear power plant , now open for tours as a museum.

The Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1, or EBR-1 for short, made history on December 20, 1951, when it became the first plant to generate usable electricity from atomic energy. (In 1954, a facility in Obninsk, Russia , became the world’s first nuclear power plant to generate electricity for commercial use.) Since tours began in 1975, the  EBR-1 Atomic Museum  has let visitors go right up and touch the instruments in the reactor control room, try their hand at the mechanical arms that used to hold radioactive materials and even stand on top of where the nuclear fuel rods once plunged. The museum also provides a fascinating glimpse of the human history of the place. Open seven days a week during  summer , the plant-turned-museum offers free tours, either on one’s own or with a guide.

The control room harkens back to a more analog era, when instruments on the wall looked like not much more than a piece of spiral graph paper behind glass and there was a noticeable lack of computer screens. There’s also the all-important SCRAM button, for emergency shut-down of the reactor. A museum sign explains the history of the acronym, which comes from an earlier plant, Chicago Pile-1, and a rather rudimentary-sounding emergency system.

The Chicago plant is notable for being the first to reach a state in which its nuclear-fission chain reaction was self-sustaining. Despite that achievement, however, emergency precautions at the time weren't very high-tech, at least by today’s standards. Those precautions included workers suspending a thin rod of cadmium from a rope so that it dangled above a hole in the reactor. They used cadmium because it can slow down or stop a nuclear reaction by absorbing neutrons, hopefully stemming a disaster. But there was no automatic mechanism to make the cadmium fall into the hole. Instead, a museum sign explains, a “sturdy young male physicist stood by the rope, holding an axe.” (You can’t make this stuff up.) If something went wrong, he’d “swing his axe and cut the rope, plunging the rod into its hole and shutting down the reaction instantly.” That earned him the name “Safety Control Rod Axe Man,” now SCRAM for short.

It’s that kind of information—and the combination of cutting-edge technology with what that might seem quaint to us today—that makes a visit to EBR-1 special. Signs, information boards and guides explain the science of nuclear reactions for a lay audience, but visitors also get to see the human side of nuclear power’s origins. Near the entrance to the plant-turned-museum is an historic eyeglass-tissue dispenser with jaunty mid-century illustrations. “Sight Savers,” it reads, “Dow Corning Silicone Treated Tissues,” with a man’s face next to the words: “Keep your glasses clean.”

The original log book from Walter Zinn, the man in charge of EBR-1 when it was built, is also on display. The book sits opened to the page from December 20, 1951, when the reaction first produced usable electricity, showing his notes from that important day. The plant ran for 12 years after that until it was officially shut down in December 1963 and decommissioned the following year.

And in a playful twist, visitors also get to do something workers used to, only without the danger. Back in the ’50s and early ’60s, those who needed to fix or inspect radioactive items used a joystick-like apparatus to control a giant mechanical arm. The claw at the end of that arm—and the radioactive items it could pick up—stood behind a thick wall of protective glass that users could look through as they manipulated the dangerous materials. Now, instead of toxic flotsam behind the glass, the museum has laid out blocks and other props to let patrons test their dexterity, risk-free, before the long drive back through sun-bleached shrubs. 

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Michele Lent Hirsch | | READ MORE

Michele Lent Hirsch is a writer, editor, and native New Yorker. She is currently at work on a nonfiction book about health and gender.

Virtual Field Trips

Navigating Nuclear Virtual Field Trips take students behind the scenes to some of the most interesting places in the world—or even in this galaxy!

Tour the largest nuclear power plant in the United States. Explore Idaho National Laboratory and meet the men and women discovering solutions to our energy challenges. Or travel into deep space to imagine how humans might live on the moon, Mars, or even farther.

Nuclear Frontiers

Inspire students to explore the possibilities of nuclear technology on Earth before planning their own colony on the moon. Along the way, students will meet a variety of stellar special guests who share their out-of-this-world experiences. Targeted to grades 3-5, but engaging for all ages.

Set the stage for learning with standards-aligned activities in our companion guide.

Download the Educator Guide

Nuclear Reimagined—Idaho National Laboratory

Journey to the leading nuclear research facility in the country, Idaho National Laboratory. Step inside a nuclear reactor, explore unexpected careers in nuclear science and see what the future may hold thanks to advances in nuclear capabilities. Targeted to high school students, this VFT is also appropriate for middle school student career exploration.

Activities in our companion guide encourage students to see themselves in nuclear careers.

Behind the Scenes at Palo Verde Generating Station

Join us as we go behind the scenes at the Palo Verde Generating Station, the largest power plant in the United States. See how nuclear technologies are helping to develop more environmentally-friendly electrical power! Targeted to middle school students, this VFT can also be used to learn how nuclear power plants work in all grade bands.

Prepare your students with our standards-aligned companion activities to extend the learning from the Virtual Field Trip to the classroom. Further your students' interest through in-depth conversation and hands-on activity.

Last modified October 29, 2021, 4:39pm CDT

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls Underground Power Station And Tunnel Tour

• Tailrace Tunnel Experience: Niagara's latest attraction.
• Pre-reserved tickets for Niagara Power Station. Pre-reserved tickets for Skylon Tower.
• Glass elevator experience at Skylon Tower. Glass elevator experience at Tailrace Tunnel.
• Knowledgeable local English-speaking guide. Expertly guided walking tour.

Embark on an extraordinary adventure as you explore the mesmerizing Niagara Underground Power Station and Tunnel Under Falls Tour. This unique experience takes you on an immersive journey beneath the world-renowned Niagara Falls, revealing the hidden wonders that lie beneath the surface.

Prepare to be captivated as you step into the awe-inspiring world of the underground power station. Marvel at the remarkable engineering behind harnessing the immense power of the falls to generate electricity. Descend into the depths of the tunnel and be amazed by the intricate design and sheer magnitude of this underground marvel.

Guided by knowledgeable experts, you'll gain insights into the rich history and technological innovations that have shaped the Niagara region. Discover fascinating stories of the power station's construction and learn about the incredible feats accomplished to create this subterranean masterpiece.

The Niagara Underground Power Station and Tunnel Under Falls Tour promises an unforgettable experience for adventure seekers and history enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in the immersive sights and sounds as you navigate through hidden passageways and witness the breathtaking power of the Falls up close.

Book your tickets now and embark on this extraordinary journey to explore the Niagara Underground Power Station and Tunnel Under Falls Tour. Prepare to be awestruck and leave with a newfound appreciation for the magnificent forces of nature and human ingenuity.

Tour Itinerary

Skylon tower.

Join your expert guide at Skylon Tower to start your walking tour. Experience stunning views and photo opportunities while learning about the Niagara Generating Stations that power one-quarter of New York state. Explore the International Control Dam, where water is diverted for station use. Admission ticket included for a seamless experience.

Illumination Tower and Queen Victoria Park Stage

Visit the Illumination Tower near the base of the Niagara River for a nightly spectacle. Witness the breathtaking transformation of Niagara Falls into a vibrant, multi-colored water and light display. Discover the inner workings of the light show and the notable figures, including British Royalty, who have graced this path. Best of all, admission is free, allowing you to enjoy this mesmerizing experience without any cost. Prepare to be amazed as Niagara Falls becomes a masterpiece of water and light.

Nikola Tesla Statue

Discover the story of an underappreciated inventor whose global impact is immense. Explore his legacy, including inventions that harnessed water for hydroelectricity, his rivalry with Edison in the 'War of the Currents,' and his intriguing eccentricities. Admission is free, allowing you to delve into the world of this remarkable innovator without any cost. Uncover the fascinating tale of an inventor whose contributions shaped our modern world.

Horseshoe Falls

Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Horseshoe Falls by stepping onto the boardwalk. Take in the mesmerizing view, observe the powerful whirlpool below, and understand why visionaries like Tesla found inspiration in this magnificent display of nature's raw power. Admission is free, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the magnetic allure of Niagara Falls. Prepare to be captivated by the breathtaking scenery and the profound impact it had on pioneering minds.

Niagara Parks Power Station

The historic Niagara Parks Power Station, the first major power plant on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, was constructed in 1905. Its purpose was to harness the hydroelectric power of the Niagara River. Stepping inside this impressive structure is like traveling back in time, as you encounter the original machinery that remains intact. Engage in hands-on training exercises, exploring the thrust deck, brake deck, and turbo deck while learning about their functions and the future of hydroelectricity. Admission tickets are included, ensuring a seamless experience. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the Niagara Parks Power Station and gain a deeper understanding of its significance in the development of hydroelectric power.

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• 24-hour cancellation policy: Full refund available if canceled 24 hours in advance.
• Refund policy: Full refund requires cancellation 24 hours before start time.
• Late cancellation: No refund for cancellations within 24 hours of start time.
• Changes not accepted: Changes made within 24 hours of start time not allowed.
• Cut-off times: Deadlines based on local time of the experience.

Other Information

• Confirmation received upon booking. Not wheelchair accessible
• Close proximity to public transportation.
• Infants must sit on laps
• Recommended for travelers with moderate physical fitness.
• Maximum of 20 travelers on this tour/activity.

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• No Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
• No Gratuities

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Iceland’s Most Surprising Tourist Attraction? Power Plants.

By Elissa Garay

Rising up from an otherwise desolate stretch of landscape, sinuous plumes of steam signal my arrival at Hellisheiði Power Plant, Iceland’s largest, and very much functioning, geothermal power station.

Touring a power plant might not immediately conjure up thoughts of vacation. But according to a 2016 Gallup poll, nearly half of Iceland's foreign tourists —who quickly learn how much of their itinerary is powered by green energy—have expressed interest in doing just that. And at a time when climate and energy-supply crises have driven up the cost of everything from groceries to airfare, and nations around the globe are clamoring for innovative clean-energy solutions to avert environmental disaster, it’s hard for visitors not to perk up over Iceland’s apparent victory over fossil fuel dependency.

“I was shocked by how easily geothermal and hydroelectric power had been implemented into life and culture,” Samantha Stockley, a 36-year-old nonprofit worker from Oklahoma who recently visited Iceland for the first time, told me. “This trip made me wish Americans had more renewable energy.”

I shared her sentiments. And over the course of my trip, as I learned about the influence of these geothermal and hydroelectric powerhouses—which together supply a staggering  85 percent of the country’s energy needs —I discovered that in fact the country’s sustainable energy landscape affords a tourism circuit all its own.

Iceland’s Ljósafoss Hydropower Station, along the River Sog, is among the power facilities offering visitor exhibits.

Iceland first began its transition to renewable energy in the early 1970s, in an effort to reduce its costly dependence on fossil fuels. Since then, the country has steadily become the world’s largest green energy producer per capita. Nearly 100 percent of its electricity is generated by renewable geothermal and hydroelectric energy, and nine out of 10 homes are heated with geothermal heat piped in from the earth’s interior. That energy is now not only responsible for powering, but producing some of its most popular attractions, including the famed Blue Lagoon , which, buoyed by a wealth of stunning natural sites, as well as affordable flights and stopovers, has handily contributed to the Iceland tourism boom that first began in 2010.

It’s little-known that the site’s milky pools are somewhat man-made—a byproduct of the neighboring Svartsengi geothermal power plant, where in the early 1980s local bathers first discovered the apparent healing properties of the silica-and algae-rich runoff that pooled in a reservoir beside the facility. The site tends to “invite curiosity” about geothermal energy, says Fannar Jonsson, the Blue Lagoon’s quality and environment manager, and the attraction provides interested guests with information both online and on-site about the neighboring geothermal facilities that power it.

“We went to the Blue Lagoon on the first day, and then we went to a local geothermal pool every other day,” says Stockley. The experience was “a highlight of the trip,” she says, and sparked her interest in Iceland’s energy landscape—and in returning to visit lesser-expected sites like Hellisheiði Power Plant.

The plant, which opened in 2006, is about a 25-minute drive southeast of Reykjavik, abutting the moss-slicked slopes of the active Hengill volcano. In this geologically turbulent region, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, heat generated from underground volcanic activity affords an immense wellspring of energy. Geothermal plants like Hellisheiði are designed to tap it by drilling deep into the Earth’s surface. Underground steam and hot water then generate heat through an extensive network of pipelines, or are converted to electricity using steam turbines. 

You can learn all about this process from the multimedia and interactive installations at the plant’s Geothermal Exhibition, part of the visitor center that was integrated into its initial design. That’s because there was an expectation, according to exhibition manager Laufey Guomundsdottir, that “there would be great interest in being able to see and visit the power plant” from curious visitors, who’d want to “feel and see the power of Mother Nature.” When the plant debuted the exhibit in 2007, it was the first geothermal plant in the world to feature such a display, she says.

The prediction proved accurate: Before the pandemic, the plant pulled in 100,000 visitors each year, a figure to which it is slowly returning. Academics, scientists, business leaders, and policy-makers from around the globe have taken notice, too. On the day I visit, the staff at Hellisheiði is preparing for a delegation of Baltic states’ presidents to arrive. Like me, they’ll peer through the interior windows onto the power plant’s inner mechanisms, where massive turbines roar and churn, and view the display of Icelandic rocks and minerals, some of which were until recently particles of carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere. 

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I could have kept my family’s power plant tour going at several other sites, each of which debuted their own visitors centers in the 2010s: at the Krafla geothermal power station in northern Iceland , or the Kárahnjúkar hydropower plant in the eastern highlands, or even the Ljósafoss hydropower station, set along the River Sog, less than 30 miles from Hellisheiði. But instead we continued on to Laugarvatn Fontana, a geothermal spa facility situated along the lakefront in Laugarvatn—where we stopped at the café and discovered that geothermal energy could figure into a menu, too.

Baking with the earth’s natural heat was one of the first ways Icelanders began harnessing the geothermal power beneath their feet. It’s a technique that’s persevered at spots like Laugarvatn Fontana, which hosts tours of its geothermal bakery, where loaves of rye bread, known as hverabrauð, or hot spring bread, are baked for 24 hour-periods beneath volcanic black sand. This slow-cooking method can be found in other southern Iceland kitchens, particularly in the geothermally active town of Hveragerði, where hverabrauð sandwiches feature on the bakery menu, and at the geothermally powered Ölverk Pizza & Brewery, which has been serving up local brews since 2017.

Known as the greenhouse capital of Iceland , Hveragerði is part of a region that was once an agricultural wasteland, thanks to its barren lava landscapes and colder climes. But over the past century, it has grown to accommodate a gaggle of greenhouses, where farmers use geothermally powered heating and lights to turn out a year-round supply of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

In collaboration with the neighboring Hellisheiði Power Plant, the Climeworks facility (above) captures carbon from the atmosphere and converts it to rocks that are stored underground.

Less than an hour from Hveragerði, the family-run  Friðheimar Greenhouse is a good place to contemplate this transformation. The thriving greenhouse-cum-restaurant hosts tours for guests, and welcomes them to dine on its tomato-centric menu among the vines. My husband, daughter, and I tuck into tomato soup followed by mussels in a tomato seafood sauce before finishing up with cheesecake topped with green-tomato jam—what turns out to be our best meal in Iceland. Dóróthea Ármann, Friðheimar’s assistant managing director, explains that geothermal energy has made Friðheimar’s venture a more attainable and sustainable prospect: with their high energy demands, according to Ármann, the greenhouses require as much electricity as a town with 7,000 people.  

And there’s been no shortage of visitor interest. “It is very unique how we grow vegetables all year-round here in cold and dark Iceland, with help from nature,” says Ármann, noting that annual visitors to Friðheimar, which launched in 1995, have ballooned since it opened to the public, from 900 in 2008 to some 200,000 in 2022. Stockley would love to return to Iceland to check it out, she says, and to learn more about how Iceland’s renewable energy successes “could translate into something we see someday in the U.S.” 

In the end, she and I agree that we’ve both brought home the ultimate souvenir: hope that a green-energy future is indeed possible, having now glimpsed it firsthand. 

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TO THE SOURCE OF THE GREEN POWER

A sampler of the many delights iceland has to offer.

Tour information

With possibility of airport transfer (optional).

This whole year tour takes you to the interesting green power areas close to Reykjavík. Visit the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant and learn about the exciting nature of geothermal power. Then continue to Hveragerði town where you can meet the geothermal power of nature at the hot spring area right in town and visit a hothouse where vegetables and flowers are grown and try an Icelandic earthquake in a simulator. We also visit one of the first hydro power plant built by Reykjavik Energy at Ljósafoss. During summer we drive back the mountain road via the geothermal power plant at Nesjavallavirkjun.

Duration 4 – 5 hrs.

Price: from Kr. 11.900,- per pr. Incl. entrance fee to the exhibition and a guided tour of the Geothermal power plant of Hellisheiðarvirkjun.

Minimum occupancy 4 pr. (if minimum is not reached we can find another similar option for you or give you full refund.

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