Raven Rock Mountain Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Raven Rock Mountain Complex |
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| Liberty Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States | |
The Site R tunnel entrance with abutments (39°43′47″N 77°25′57″W / 39.729642°N 77.432468°W, white figure in illustration) now has a building that is visible from a public road intersection to the west, particularly when trees are bare. The tunnel's other (east) opening is near the military installation's above-ground support area near the Route 16 intersection with Jacks Mountain Road.
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 Raven Rock Mountain Complex
Raven Rock Mountain Complex
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| Coordinates | 39°44′02″N 077°25′10″W / 39.73389°N 77.41944°W(mountain summit) |
| Type | Nuclear bunker |
| Site information | |
| Owner | U.S. government |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1951–1953 |
The Raven Rock Mountain Complex (RRMC), also known as Site R, is a very important U.S. military installation. It has a huge underground nuclear bunker built inside Raven Rock Mountain. This mountain is near Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania. People sometimes call it an "underground Pentagon" because it's so important.
The bunker has special emergency centers for the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. During the Cold War, this bunker was a key part of the U.S. government's plan. It was designed to help the government keep working even if there was a nuclear attack. Other similar bunkers include Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center in Virginia and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado.
Contents
What Is Raven Rock?
The Raven Rock Mountain Complex is a highly secure facility. It's built deep inside a mountain to protect it from attacks. Many different military groups use it.
One of the main groups there is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. This agency works to protect the U.S. from dangerous weapons. The 114th Signal Battalion is in charge of all the communications at Raven Rock. This means they make sure all the phones, radios, and computers work. The complex has many different communication systems. The Defense Information Systems Agency also helps by providing computer services.
History of Raven Rock
Raven Rock Mountain is next to Jacks Mountain. A small stream called Miney Branch flows between them. This area has a long history. In the 1800s, there were roads and even a battle nearby during the Battle of Gettysburg. Later, the area became popular for mountain resorts and parks.
In 1942, the Army built Fort Ritchie nearby. This area was chosen for a new secret facility after World War II. The government started planning for a protected place near Washington, D.C., in 1948. This place would be used to move important military leaders and communication teams if needed.
Building the Underground Center
The government officially started taking land for the project in January 1951. This land was a large hill called the Beard Lot. Bulldozers began working on January 19, 1951. By February, underground construction had already started. The Army named the area Raven Rock Mountain in May 1951.
Building the bunker was a big job. It was also dangerous. By October 1951, there were two accidents where workers were seriously hurt or died. The project faced some delays and budget cuts. By January 1952, the government said about 100 people would work at the bunker once it was finished.
Three underground buildings were finished in 1953. By April 1954, the "Little Pentagon," as it was sometimes called, had cost $35 million to build.
Ready for Action
After it was built, Raven Rock was set up to activate automatically. This meant it would be ready to go if there was an air defense warning or a surprise attack. By the end of 1955, it had all the equipment needed for command and control.
In July 1956, a special "War Room Annex" was added at Raven Rock. The Air Force operated this room. By 1959, the military saw Raven Rock as their main emergency center. It was ready to host the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and other key officers.
In 1960, the military decided to have teams of staff rotate through Raven Rock. This was to make sure people were always ready to work there in an emergency. A big expansion project was underway in December 1961.
The ANMCC
On October 1, 1962, Raven Rock's war room and other facilities were given a new name: the Alternate National Military Command Center (ANMCC). This meant it was the backup command center for the entire U.S. military. It was part of a bigger system called the Worldwide Military Command and Control System. This system included the main Pentagon command center, special aircraft, and ships.
The Raven Rock bunker was made even stronger by 1963. It was built to withstand very powerful blasts. It also received advanced computer systems to help with its mission.
After the Cold War
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney used Raven Rock as a safe place. This was to keep him away from President George W. Bush and ensure the government could continue to operate. Another important official, United States Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, also stayed at Raven Rock during this time.
Today, the Raven Rock Mountain Complex is still a very secure location. It is illegal to take photos, draw, or make maps of the complex without special permission. This rule helps keep the facility and its operations secret and safe.
In popular culture
- In the Fallout video games, Raven Rock is home to a group called the Enclave. They are a part of the old U.S. government after a big disaster. It was shown in the 2008 game Fallout 3.
- In the TV show Jeremiah, Raven Rock is where a group called Valhalla Sector survived a sickness that killed most adults.
- In Prison Break, Raven Rock is mentioned as an important place.
- The 2013 sci-fi movie Oblivion shows Raven Rock as the base for a group fighting against aliens.
- In the One Second After book series, Raven Rock (called "Site R") is used to protect important citizens and government officials.
- In the TV show Salvation, Raven Rock is a place for government officials if an asteroid hits Earth.
- In the Mitch Rapp book series, the president and his team often go to "Site R."
- The book Inside Threat by Matthew Quirk takes place almost entirely inside the Raven Rock Complex.
See also
In Spanish: Complejo de Montaña de Raven Rock para niños
