Raven Rock Mountain Complex - Site R Tour

 

As part of the Obama Administration's ongoing efforts to promote openness and transparency at all levels of government, the Raven Rock Mountain Complex is proud to open up its Top Secret facility for public tours. Because of the remote location and security requirements of this underground facility, tours are being offered only through the White House's Weekend at Camp David program.

 

Tour guests will arrive via the six and a half mile tunnel between Camp David and Site R. The first stop on the tour will be the Security Building, where guests will be finger-printed, photographed, and frisked.

Staff from the Fire & Emergency Services will conduct a briefing on the fire evacuation plan and the use of the emergency escape masks. While an evacuation is highly unlikely, the safety briefing is required for all Site R visitors. Flashlights will be issued to all guests in the unlikely event the entire facility is suddenly plunged into complete darkness.

 

The next stop on the tour is the Ventilation System Control Room. The Raven Rock facility is located deep inside a mountain and requires a sophisticated ventilation system to continuously control and monitor the air quality.

The central filtration system draws in unfiltered air from outside through numerous strategically dispersed intake vents. The air passes through a bank of 12 filters certified for the collection of nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC or CBRN) toxins.

Staff from the RRMC Life Support Division responsible for this area will be available to answer questions.

 

The tour continues to the main command center for Site R where you will have the opportunity to see the exciting day-to-day activities up close.

The RRMC serves as a National Military Command Center (NMCC) and the Alternate Joint Communications Center (AJCC) for the Pentagon. As such, all communication links between the Pentagon and military installations throughout the world are replicated here at Site R.

Members of the 114th Signal Battalion will accompany you on this part of the tour to answer your questions. Tour guests are requested to refrain from touching any of the electronic equipment, especially any red buttons.

 

The next section of the tour is recommended for guests who are in excellent condition only. An RRMC miner will accompany you to the Project DIDLAS (Dig it Deeper Longer and Steeper) area where you will see firsthand the tunnel excavation and expansion work.

Scheduled for completion in 2016, the tunnel will eventually connect RRMC to the Pentagon via the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, an astounding 97.5 total miles!

 

Guests will proceed to the underground reservoir for a brief overview of the water filtration and distribution system. Samples will be made available for your consumption.

Finally, you will head over to view the bomb blast doors at the the main personnel entrance. The entire installation is sealed off by these 30-ton bomb blast doors, 3 feet thick, that can be hydraulically closed in less than a minute.

 

The tour ends with a quick stop at the Granite Cove dining facility located within RRMC. Deli fresh sandwiches, hot food, rotisserie chicken, fruit, snacks, desserts, and beverages are available for purchase.

Whenever possible, the Installation Commander will try to stop by to answer any remaining questions you may have about the Raven Rock facility and its important mission and future direction.

Following the 20 minute snack break and restroom stop, you will be escorted back to the Camp David Tunnel entrance for your return trip to Camp David.

 

 

 

RAVEN ROCK SITE R TOUR SOUVENIRS

Tour guests will have their choice of receiving either an official RRMC coin or t-shirt as a souvenir of their visit.

 

RAVEN ROCK SOUVENIR COIN

Bronze challenge coin with raised painted design on both sides.

Front: Official Site R logo with inscription: Alternate Joint Communications Center Site R.
Back: Eagle with inscription: Well Done! From the Headquarters Commandant.

 

 

 

RAVEN ROCK SOUVENIR T-SHIRT

Official Raven Rock t-shirt with the Site R logo and clever caption "Raven Rocks!" on the front and the Distinctive Unit Insignia of the 114TH SIGNAL BATTALION on the back. Note: This is the SAME stylish t-shirt that President Obama was recently spotted wearing while on vacation in Hawaii!

 

WHY TOUR RRMC?

Raven Rock Mountain Complex was recently selected by Popular Mechanics as one of the "World's 18 Strangest Military Bases".
Click on the photo below for the story.

 

 

 

Read more about the Raven Rock Mountain Complex.

View photos from President Obama's tour of Site R.

Return to the White House Weekend at Camp David page.