1010 Cheyenne Mountain NORAD

• Origins in the Cold War: The Cheyenne Mountain Complex, home to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), was constructed during the height of the Cold War to monitor threats from the Soviet Union, especially nuclear attacks. • Location and Construction: The complex is buried 2,000 feet under Cheyenne Mountain near Colorado Springs, Colorado. Construction began in 1961 and involved blasting out 693,000 tons of granite. • Blast Doors: The entrance features two 25-ton blast doors designed to protect the facility from a nuclear explosion and subsequent shockwaves. • Self-sustaining City: Cheyenne Mountain can operate independently for at least 30 days, with its own water reservoir, power plant, and air filtration systems. • Resilient Infrastructure: The complex sits on more than 1,300 giant springs, allowing it to absorb the shock of a nearby nuclear blast. • Real-life “WarGames” Inspiration: The facility inspired the 1983 movie WarGames, which brought public attention to NORAD’s mysterious underground operations. • Santa Tracker: Since 1955, NORAD has famously tracked Santa Claus’s journey every Christmas Eve, a tradition that began accidentally due to a misprinted phone number. • 24/7 Operations: The complex is staffed around the clock by American and Canadian military personnel, reflecting the binational partnership of NORAD. • Modernization and Standby: While NORAD’s primary command center moved to Peterson Air Force Base in 2006, Cheyenne Mountain remains operational as a backup and for certain critical functions. • Secrecy and Security: The exact details of the complex’s operations and layout remain classified, fueling fascination and speculation about its true capabilities.