One Of The Largest Collections Of Gold In The Country Is Safely Stored In A Fort In Kentucky
By Andrea Limke|Published April 03, 2020
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Andrea Limke
Author
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
There are a lot of interesting things to learn about Kentucky, so much so that the Bluegrass State will continue to surprise you, even if you’ve always lived here. Our history is fascinating and our state shows up in those history books in the most peculiar ways. Surely – whether you’re from Kentucky or not – you’ve heard of Fort Knox. This Army base is south of Louisville and well known for many reasons. Most famously, Fort Knox in Kentucky is known to hold one of the largest collections of gold in our country and it’s all safely stored in a building that has been impenetrable for years.
The references to Fort Knox both within and outside of Kentucky can be heard in many situations.
When something is "like Fort Knox," of course that means that there's no way you're getting inside of it, because the real Fort Knox in Kentucky is as secure as it gets. But as famous as this building is, many still don't realize it is in the Bluegrass State.
Fort Knox is an Army base that is really its own town, but it is also home to one of the U.S. bullion depositories.
This building holds precious metal bullion reserves for the United States, and in fact, it holds more gold than any of the other U.S. reserves. While there is a good amount of information out there about Fort Knox, visitors are definitely not allowed.
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Other than authorized personnel, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first "outsider" to be allowed inside.
The vault was then opened again to visitors in 1974 and most recently in 2017. For these vaults to open, it takes several people as not one single person has the means to reach the reserve by himself.
According to U.S. Mint, Fort Knox holds 147.3 million ounces of gold. With a book value of $42.22 per ounce, that means there is more than 6 billion dollars tucked away in a building in Kentucky.
Gold isn't the only thing that's been hidden inside this impenetrable vault.
During World War II, the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights were safely stored inside Fort Knox to protect them against any attacks. There have also been other historic items temporarily kept here, such as the Magna Carta.
Photos and your imagination are as close as you're going to get to what is hidden behind the gates of the depository at Fort Knox.
Kentucky has been entrusted to keep these reserves safe and secure since 1935 and this historic destination will surely continue to fascinate our state and country for years to come.
Learn more interesting facts about Fort Knox in Kentucky in this short video:
Most Americans have likely heard of Fort Knox, but many of them have no idea it’s actually in Kentucky. Of course, it’s much more than just a bullion depository, but the fascination is undeniable when you think about the amount of gold that is stored away in this incredibly secure building. Are you intrigued by what’s hidden in Fort Knox in Kentucky? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!