In 1936 the US Treasury Department built the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox Kentucky on land deeded from the Military to protect Gold Bullion and Assets of other agencies.

Although the Bullion Depository is nearby the Army Post for additional protection, the vault is lined with granite walls with a door weighing 24.6 tons. No one person gets the combination to the vault. Various staff members dial separate combinations known only to them.

Another myth is that Fort Knox guards more gold than anywhere else in the world. The fact is that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s underground vault in New York City holds $90 billion in gold bullion, the largest in the world. During World War II the depository held the gold reserves of European countries as well as the U.S., and historic documents such as the Magna Carta. The Bullion Depository is not open to the general public.

Fort Knox is a Kentucky city, covering over 170 square miles, making it the sixth largest in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It is located about 35 miles south of Louisville. Populated mainly with Soldiers, their families, and civilian support staff about 23,000 in all. The military installation is best known in military circles for The Armor Training Center and School that trains all armor Soldiers and Marines. The Army Recruiting Command Headquarters is also located on the base, along with the Eastern Region of the ROTC. Fort Knox has become a premier training center, and cutting edge technology developed there is leading the Army into the twenty-first century. Units located at Fort Knox are considered “Partners in Excellence” and include active duty Army Organizations, Army Reserve, U.S. Marine Corps, and the National Guard.

Just because you can’t get in to look at the gold, doesn’t mean there is nothing to see. The Patton Museum of Armor and Cavalry is located at Fort Knox, and admission is free. They do however accept donations. The museum was established to preserve historical material relating to Cavalry and Armor and make them available to soldiers and the public through exhibit and research. Administered by the U.S. Army Armor Center, the Museum was dedicated in 1949. The present museum was completed in 1992 after 20 years of construction at no cost to the U.S. Government through private donations. The Museum galleries feature a variety of armored equipment and vehicles, weapons, art, and other memorabilia. The Patton Gallery contains many of General Patton’s personal effects. The Emert L. “Red” Davis Library, located inside the museum is a research library full of materials relating to Cavalry and armor. These resources are available to Armor School Soldiers, and general researchers.

Author Ron Stemple
Copyright 2006, Ron Dowell