# What is the most secure facility on earth? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585 "2007-09-26T19:11:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/41 "2007-09-27T13:29:33Z")
Depending on the technology of the attackers the International Space Station would be almost impossible to breach, though you could siege it by attacking it’s supply lines, leading to the crew dieing and the station burning up - or otherwise destroy it, but to breach it in a way to capture it, I can’t see how. ---
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/42 "2007-09-27T13:31:01Z")
[QUOTE=kanicbird] Depending on the technology of the attackers the International Space Station would be almost impossible to breach, though you could siege it by attacking it’s supply lines, leading to the crew dieing and the station burning up - or otherwise destroy it, but to breach it in a way to capture it, I can’t see how. [/QUOTE] It’s not really the most secure facility “on earth” though… seeing as it’s in, y’know, _space_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/43 "2007-09-27T13:38:29Z")
Since this is the Straight Dope it wouldn’t be the same without some nitpicking. Fort Knox is no more or less secure than any other army post. In fact prior to 9/11 it was an open post. You could drive right through it. I don’t think there are any open posts any more. I went to basic training there and later Armor Officer Basic. It is the home of the Army Armor Center and of the Army Recruiting Command as well as some other units. (last I heard they were going to move the armor center to Benning along with the crunchies. I don’t know where that stands, I’ve been out of the tank business for a while) When most people say “Fort Knox” they are actually talking about the United States Bullion Depository which does occupy a small bit of the post. The wiki article makes it seem that the entire armor school is ready to jump to the defense of the depository. I guess they could throw something together if it comes up but most people on post don’t even think about the depository. It’s just a building you drive past sometimes. ETA the basic training part of _Stripes_ was filmed at Ft Knox. I ran on the same obstacle course 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/44 "2007-09-27T13:38:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, thanks for saving me the trouble. I guess I’ll just sit here and stroke my white long haired cat. Yeah, but you’d be watching as a detatched observer. **Goldfinger** was the only Bond film until **Live and Let Die** (almost a decade later) that didn’t involve SPECTRE. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/45 "2007-09-27T14:04:51Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Fort Knox is no more or less secure than any other army post. In fact prior to 9/11 it was an open post. You could drive right through it. I don’t think there are any open posts any more. [/QUOTE] I don’t know that you’d call it a “post” since there are no significant number of active duty personnel stationed there, but you can drive right through Fort Hunter Liggett with just a valid ID and proof of car insurance. It’s a beautiful drive, and about the only way through the Santa Lucia mountains. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/46 "2007-09-27T14:07:36Z")
I think the building in question would have to have _less_ human guards and more in the terms of electronic protection if it is to win the title. The more humans that are in close prox to the actual thing being guarded make the thing being guarded more vulnerable, even if the humans are the guards themselves. Aren’t DNS servers redundant? If you were to clobber one of them wouldn’t the backup just come on line and patch through? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/47 "2007-09-27T14:26:11Z")
Taking out any single root DNS server wouldn’t do much besides introducing some slight lag on the Internet. You could generate much more trouble by hacking them and hijacking a few thousand domains… ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/48 "2007-09-27T14:56:10Z")
[Site R](http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=39.733627,-77.419839&spn=0.019505,0.044546&z=15&om=1) on Google Maps. And the [entrance to the secret underground lair](http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=39.738528,-77.413723&spn=0.004876,0.011137&z=17&om=1). Looks susceptible to the ol’ James Bond ski attack if you ask me… 😉 Edit: oops, just read this on the Wiki page… > [@](#): > > On May 25, 2007 the Federal Register published a Defense Dept. policy declaring that it is unlawful “to make any photograph, sketch, picture, drawing, map or graphical representation of the Raven Rock Mountain Complex without first obtaining the necessary permission.” [2] ---
**Author:** ![Defective\_Detective](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Defective\_Detective](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defective_Detective)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/49 "2007-09-27T14:56:23Z")
[QUOTE=control-z] Fort Knox should be right up there. [/QUOTE] Well, the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC has more gold than Fort Knox, so… hopefully it’s at least as secure, if not more? ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/50 "2007-09-27T15:01:21Z")
Re Fort Knox, I’m sure I remember reading somewhere that it’s rumoured to be a decoy, and all the gold is actually kept out back of a Wal-Mart in Idaho, or somewhere. (I’m exaggerating, obviously, but that was the gist.) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/51 "2007-09-27T21:16:36Z")
[QUOTE=Defective Detective] Well, the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC has more gold than Fort Knox, so… hopefully it’s at least as secure, if not more? [/QUOTE] It’s pretty secure. [Tours of the NY Fed, including the gold vault, are open to the public](http://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/visiting.html), [but reservations are required](http://www.newyorkfed.org/aboutthefed/ny_tours.html). The gold vault is located deep underground on NYC bedrock. Those planning a heist should consult the 7.5MB .pdf file located at the first link. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/52 "2007-09-27T22:34:24Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Re Fort Knox, I’m sure I remember reading somewhere that it’s rumoured to be a decoy, and all the gold is actually kept out back of a Wal-Mart in Idaho, or somewhere. (I’m exaggerating, obviously, but that was the gist.) [/QUOTE] According to the Wiki, there’s a conspiracy theory that Lyndon Johnson moved most (but apparently not all) the gold to London. What the Americans would have gotten out of doing so is not explained. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/53 "2007-09-27T23:27:43Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Re Fort Knox, I’m sure I remember reading somewhere that it’s rumoured to be a decoy, and all the gold is actually kept out back of a Wal-Mart in Idaho, or somewhere. (I’m exaggerating, obviously, but that was the gist.) [/QUOTE] It’s actually kept underneath the big fountain at Lenox Square in Atlanta. Wow, those black helicopters sure got here fast. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/54 "2007-09-28T00:39:02Z")
[QUOTE=UncleRojelio] I’d like to see you get inside a submerged submarine. [/QUOTE] And on a re-read of this thread, I’d submit to you that Air Force One, while in flight, is the most secure facility on Earth. Tripler And this is despite the Presidency of Harrison Ford. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/55 "2007-09-28T03:38:55Z")
[QUOTE=Defective Detective] Well, the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC has more gold than Fort Knox, so… hopefully it’s at least as secure, if not more? [/QUOTE] Am I the only one here who remembers **Die Hard 3**? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/56 "2007-09-28T05:20:45Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Am I the only one here who remembers **Die Hard 3**? [/QUOTE] Oddly enough, yes. Yes you are. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/57 "2007-09-28T23:45:09Z")
That was the whole plot. The bad guys were robbing the Federal Reserve Bank in NYC. The point was made in the film that it contained much more gold than Fort Knox. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/58 "2007-09-28T23:53:34Z")
Didn’t read all of the thread, but: Area 51 has to be up there. Also, there is a Facility in Maryland that houses all of the most dangerous germs in the world, up to 5 stages of deadliness. Can’t think of it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/59 "2007-09-30T06:16:58Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Yeah, but you’d be watching as a detatched observer. **Goldfinger** was the only Bond film until **Live and Let Die** (almost a decade later) that didn’t involve SPECTRE. [/QUOTE] My point. **Stranger on a Train** pointed out how ludicrous the plan was, so I talked Auric Goldfinger into trying it. He was obsessed enough with gold to actually do it, and he had cheated me once at cards, you see. ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585/60 "2007-09-30T23:36:48Z")
[QUOTE=diggleblop] Also, there is a Facility in Maryland that houses all of the most dangerous germs in the world, up to 5 stages of deadliness. Can’t think of it, though. [/QUOTE] That’s really impressive, considering that the CDC only specifies [four levels of biocontainment](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosafety_level). I think you’re talking about [USAMRIID](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAMRIID), though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-secure-facility-on-earth/420585.md?page=4)