Laser Interferometer Gravitional-Wave Observatory

Currently the largest project funded by the National Science Foundation, each arm of the interferometer is 4 km long. Its mission is to identify the gravitational waves we are (theoretically) constantly being bathed with, in the hopes of decoding several mysteries of the universe. The challenge is to create equipment with the required precision and to isolate the instrument from all the noise of our planet.

While we were there, something happened to throw the interferometer off-line. On visiting the control room, it turned out to have been a 6.0 earthquake in the Aleutian Islands.

A fascinating tour if you are an instrumentation, physics, astronomy, or science geek. The monthly ad-hoc tour is not appropriate for young or small children, but special tours can be arranged for scouting groups, etc. All of the tour is accessible, but does require about an hour of unshaded outdoor exposure, and the summer months can be very hot.