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Why the Pentagon has a hidden metro system
Why the Pentagon has a hidden metro system?
A secret underground network under Washington DC built during the Cold War.
The Truth About Washington D.C.’s Hidden Underground Network
For decades, whispers have circulated about a secret “metro” running under Washington D.C. — a hidden train line connecting the Pentagon, the White House, and other top-security sites. Movies and conspiracy forums have kept the story alive. But how much of it is real, and how much is rumor?
Let’s dive into the known facts, the Cold War plans, and why these stories persist.
The DUCC: The Underground Command Center That Never Was
During the height of the Cold War, the Pentagon proposed the Deep Underground Command Center (DUCC) — a massive hardened bunker 3,500 feet beneath Washington D.C., under the Potomac River. Plans showed it linking the Pentagon, the White House, and other key buildings by secure tunnels or high-speed elevators so leaders could escape within minutes.
It would have been able to survive a direct nuclear strike and continue running the country from underground. But despite studies and sketches, the DUCC was never built as planned. The price tag, engineering challenges, and shifting strategy left it on the drawing board.
Myths vs. Reality
Because some tunnels and bunkers are classified or rarely discussed, rumors take root. Stories about a full-fledged private “metro line” under D.C. persist, but no credible public evidence confirms a functioning secret train system. Most of what does exist are service tunnels, pedestrian passages, and secure facilities — not an underground commuter rail.
Still, the kernel of truth — real bunkers, real evacuation tunnels — gives these tales staying power.