Did you know that several World War Two-era bunkers still exist in and around St. Louis Missouri?
Preservation of these sites is important for keeping our history alive, and fortunately, some historians are working to identify and document these spots before they become lost to time.
The St. Louis region holds a great deal of WW2 history because of its connection with The Manhattan Project. This means Bunkers/Fallout shelters were abundant in the area. Recently, one history enthusiast tracked down four places with WW2 bunkers still in prime condition. Check them out below.
August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area
The History Underground YouTube channel recently shared an eye-opening video of bunkers found in this area. Located in Weldon Spring, Missouri, this land was purchased by the Missouri Department of Conservation in 1947. Their efforts to preserve history have left several bunkers that once stood as munitions plants.
Washington University Tyson Research Center
In an Unincorporated area in West St. Louis County, you will find the Tyson Research Center, an environmental field station of Washington University that offers research and education opportunities. The area, which was purchased by Washington University in 1963, was once home to 65 bunkers. At least two are in great condition and used for storage purposes today.
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Located in Carterville, Illinois just past the Missouri border, The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge works to support several major habitats for animals including foxes and Bald Eagles. The area is also home to many Second World War-era bunkers that once stored live ammunition. In fact, some of the bunkers still hold explosives. For this reason, the area is restricted and kept under tight security.
Sangamon Ordnance Plant
The Sangamon Ordnance Plant is said to have produced 24 million artillery shells along with more than 100 million artillery and bomb fuses and boosters to support the war in the 1940s. Because of this large operation, bunkers can still be found scattered around the area.
Read more about these bunkers tucked away in the Midwest here.
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