White House Bomb Shelter and Tunnel to Treasury Department - During World War II, it was decided that it was necessary to construct a bomb shelter under the East Wing of the White House to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the case of an enemy attack. While this bomb shelter was being constructed under the White House, a temporary bomb shelter was hastily constructed under the adjacent U.S. Treasury building consisting of 10 vaults each approximately 1,100 ft. square two floors under the Cash Room in the North Wing of the Treasury building, all protected by a large single vault door. It was accessed by a tunnel with a sloping floor that connected the White House with the Treasury Department building that would allow FDR to be wheeled to it in his wheelchair. This tunnel still connects the White House with the Treasury Department building, but can only be accessed through heavy locked doors.Wednesday, January 14, 2009
White House Bomb Shelter and Tunnel to Treasury Department - During World War II, it was decided that it was necessary to construct a bomb shelter under the East Wing of the White House to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the case of an enemy attack. While this bomb shelter was being constructed under the White House, a temporary bomb shelter was hastily constructed under the adjacent U.S. Treasury building consisting of 10 vaults each approximately 1,100 ft. square two floors under the Cash Room in the North Wing of the Treasury building, all protected by a large single vault door. It was accessed by a tunnel with a sloping floor that connected the White House with the Treasury Department building that would allow FDR to be wheeled to it in his wheelchair. This tunnel still connects the White House with the Treasury Department building, but can only be accessed through heavy locked doors.
