Buzz
The United States is home to numerous secret bunkers, especially those designed for continuity of government (COG). These sites serve as refuges for government officials during emergencies such as terrorist attacks, nuclear threats, or other major crises. Built to withstand extreme explosions, these underground shelters offer the necessary resources to sustain life for long periods. They are among the nation's best-kept secrets and represent some of its most robust defense measures.
10. Presidential Emergency Operations Center
The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) is one of the most recognized bunkers in media. The iconic image of former President George W. Bush meeting with the National Security Council after the September 11, 2001 attacks provides a rare look into this highly secure facility.
During this crisis, former Vice President Dick Cheney, his wife, and numerous other senior government officials (mainly members of the cabinet) were swiftly moved to the safety and secrecy of the PEOC. It is believed to be located beneath the East Wing of the White House, the heart of the executive branch and the president's official residence.
The PEOC was originally constructed during World War II under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's directive. Designed to withstand nuclear attacks, it was meant to shelter the president and other key US leaders in times of extreme emergency. While specific details about the PEOC remain highly classified, it is believed to function as a communications hub linking it to other critical COG operations. The PEOC has been portrayed in major films like Olympus Has Fallen and White House Down, as well as in the Emmy-winning TV series House of Cards.
9. Project Greek Island (Greenbrier)
Project Greek Island (also known as Greenbrier) was a secret arrangement between the US government and the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, dating back to the 1950s. The luxurious hotel was designated as a safe haven for the legislative branch in the event of a government emergency.
The Greenbrier’s vast size allowed for two auditoriums within the bunker, with capacities of 470 and 130 people, respectively. Despite its enormity, the bunker remained undiscovered for 30 years. Many parts of the facility were reportedly visible to the public, including the massive blast doors.
The fact that most of the on-site bathrooms were designed for men, reflecting the male-dominated nature of Congress, sparked curiosity. It is said that the owners were frequently asked about the complex, even though its true purpose wasn't revealed until years later.
The Greenbrier complex included sleeping quarters, a medical center, an advanced air filtration system, a broadcast center, and more, with 1-meter (3-foot) thick concrete doors. Interestingly, the bunker was maintained by government personnel posing as workers from a fictional television company.
Project Greek Island was eventually exposed through a major newspaper article, leading to its decommissioning. Following the exposure, some of the staff members continued to give tours of the bunker and still work at the hotel today. There are no current reports about where Congress would convene in the event of a modern-day catastrophe.
8. Raven Rock Mountain Complex
Located at Raven Rock Mountain near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania, the Raven Rock Mountain Complex is a military installation often referred to as an "underground Pentagon." This facility houses an expansive telecommunications center for the US Air Force, Army, and Navy, ensuring communications remain intact in the event of a nuclear strike.
Originally built as a Cold War-era emergency shelter, the complex continues to serve as a relocation hub for military National Command Authorities. Its primary occupant today is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, which operates numerous communication and computer systems from the site.
It is believed that District 13 from The Hunger Games trilogy was inspired by the Raven Rock Mountain Complex due to the striking resemblance in its design and functionality.
7. Cheyenne Mountain Complex
Situated in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Cheyenne Mountain Complex is a large military installation and nuclear bunker. It was once the headquarters of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which still operates from Colorado Springs today.
The complex was built 760 meters (2,500 feet) beneath solid granite, featuring multiple buildings protected by 25-ton blast doors. Designed to withstand all types of disaster, the facility includes numerous springs to ensure that no building shifts more than 2.5 centimeters (1 inch).
Originally constructed to bolster Cold War defense strategies, the bunker is built to endure the most devastating bombings, missile attacks, and nuclear strikes. It has advanced oxygen systems to block radiation, as well as its own power plant and water supply. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex guarantees a 99.999% reliability for these vital utilities.
6. Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center
Located near the Capitol, the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center covers an impressive 564 acres in Virginia. It operates as a key mountain continuity of government (COG) facility, managed by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.
The facility remained classified until the crash of TWA Flight 514 in December 1974, when it was revealed that Mount Weather had been a secure shelter for the President of the United States. The Washington Post later reported that the site was used by the Congressional leadership, who were evacuated by helicopter following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.
Details about the bunker remain scarce, as it continues to be operational today.
5. Deep Underground Command Center
Arguably the most enigmatic bunker, the Deep Underground Command Center (DUCC) was a proposed military facility from the early 1960s. Positioned 900 to 1,200 meters (3,000 to 4,000 feet) below the Earth's surface near the Pentagon, this facility was built to withstand the impacts of 200 to 300-megaton weapons while maintaining its structural integrity.
The DUCC was reportedly suggested to President John F. Kennedy shortly before his assassination. The proposal detailed a 50-person bunker with potential to expand to house 300 individuals. The fate of this proposal remains unclear, although it's believed that the project was canceled following the president’s death.
4. Mount Pony
An underground facility exists at Mount Pony in Culpeper, Virginia, constructed in 1969 during the Cold War. Its primary purpose was to store billions of dollars in cash for the Federal Reserve, intended for use following a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. According to the Brookings Institute, the stash included a significant amount of $2 bills, shrink-wrapped and stacked on pallets nine feet high. This money was meant to restore currency supplies east of the Mississippi after a nuclear attack.
A 30-day stockpile of food and water was enough to sustain 500 Federal Reserve staff members, including the chairman and board of directors. The three-story facility also featured an incinerator, an indoor shooting range, and a helipad. It was fortified with a two- to four-foot earthen roof and lead-lined window shutters, designed to withstand radiation.
The bunker served more than just as a doomsday refuge for economists; it also hosted the Culpeper Switch, the central hub for the Fedwire system, which facilitates electronic bank transfers. An old pamphlet from the Federal Reserve highlights that Mount Pony’s location was historically significant, having been used by the Confederate Army as a signal station and later as an observation post during World War II for spotting aircraft.
When the Cold War ended, the Federal Reserve transferred ownership of the facility to the Library of Congress. The Library then installed 90 miles of shelving in the climate-controlled underground vaults, which now house the Library’s collection of recorded sound and videotape materials.
3. Selfridge AFB Radar Station
Selfridge, operating since 1959 in Michigan as a US Air Force Surveillance Radar Station, is renowned for its advanced radar technologies. The station features groundbreaking detection systems, the capability to coordinate multiple surface-to-air missile launches, and houses the Missile Master bunker.
In 1960, the Army Air Defense Command Post (AADCP) was built to facilitate surface-to-air missile launches as part of Project Nike, a Cold War-era defense initiative. However, the AADCP was eventually decommissioned.
The radar station now hosts a United States Marine Corps Reserve unit, with the former bunker having been repurposed into an air traffic control center. Due to the highly classified nature of the facility, little is known about the station's current operational status.
2. Warrenton Training Center
Warrenton Training Center, located in Virginia, is a top-secret communications hub mainly used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for various operations. The facility also includes a relocation bunker as part of the U.S. Continuity of Government (COG) program. It comprises four discreet stations spread across Fauquier and Culpeper counties.
True to its name, Warrenton Training Center serves as a training ground for several federal agencies, including the CIA, National Security Agency (NSA), State Department, and Department of Defense (DOD). Although little is disclosed about the bunker’s specific use, it plays a key role in emergency preparedness for the NSA, DOD, and State Department.
1. Canadian Forces Base North Bay
The Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay, located in North Bay, Ontario, north of Toronto, is one of the few international bunkers operated by the U.S. The facility acts as NORAD's main center in Canada and is situated 60 floors beneath the surface.
During the Cold War, CFB North Bay found itself in a precarious position, located between the Soviet Union and the United States, making it a focal point for potential conflicts. To ensure its survival, the facility was designed to endure an assault about 267 times more powerful than the notorious Hiroshima bomb.
Though details about CFB North Bay remain limited, it is closely linked with the creation of NORAD in the late 1950s. This site continues to be operational.
