Only One Place on Earth Is More Secure Than This Kentucky Location

The 1983 "apocalyptic adventure" known as WarGames is one of my "comfort food" movies, and I watched it this weekend. I call it an apocalyptic adventure because it's about a teenager whose search for an online game to play threatens nuclear destruction upon the planet. Yes, "online," and it was 1983. Back then, that was sci-fi.

The Second Most Heavily-Guarded Location on Earth Is in Kentucky

The majority of the film's action takes place at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which was duplicated for the film. The actual NORAD headquarters is Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The primary command center is inside the Cheyenne Mountain Complex.

That complex is listed as the 12th most heavily-guarded location on Earth, and this one comes in as the runner-up at No. 2.

So there's more than just gold in the second most heavily-guarded spot in the world; the most important documents in American history are also housed there, as well they should be.

The Myths About Fort Knox

Through the years, because of all the necessary secrecy, there have been rumors and folklore suggesting several wild untruths. One of them is the belief that Fort Knox is actually EMPTY. Start at the 1:15 mark for the debunking of THAT myth, and then keep going for more.

You know, despite the top security, Fort Knox IS a popular tourist destination with the main attraction being the General George Patton Museum. There's also a visitors center, but, for obvious reasons, the Kentucky Bullion Depository is off limits. That kind of clearance doesn't exist for civilians.

The Most Heavily-Guarded Locations on Earth

As for what TOPS the list of the most heavily-guarded locations on Earth, that would be the Vatican Secret Archives in Vatican City. Other places on the list that are inside the U.S. include the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City, the Mormon Church's secret vaults in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, ADX Florence Prison in Florence, Colorado, Air Force One, and Area 51 in Lincoln County, Nevada.