GC2NP2D 44 Steps: the Doomsday Descent... (Traditional Cache) in Oregon, United States created by MAPANZIGAN

This cache has been archived.

MAPANZIGAN: The cache has been destroyed, and the city appears to be working in the immediate vicinity. Whether they plan to revitalize the greenspace as a future park or simply deconstruct and bury it like they have with much of the history here remains to be seen...

GC2NP2D ▼

A cache by MAPANZIGAN Message this owner

Hidden : 2/12/2011

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

...With our involvement in the Korean War, and with the looming enmity between the U.S. and Russia, the Fear was upon us, and in 1952 Portland voters approved the Civil Defense bond which would allow for the construction of 7 air raid sirens throughout the city as well as the fortified bunker atop Kelly Butte which would serve as the city's Civil Defense Command Center in the event of an atomic detonation.
...Construction on the bunker was completed in 1956 at a total cost of $670,000. The 18,820 sq.-ft. complex, with its 26-inch thick reinforced concrete roof and fortified earthwork, was designed to withstand a “near-miss” from a 20-megaton nuclear bomb and contained all the amenities and provisions to support city officials and emergency communications employees for several weeks should disaster strike, ensuring continuity of government. It was then featured in the 1957 film “A Day Called X” (visit link) which highlighted Portland’s emergency preparedness as a model to be emulated by other U.S. cities. However, the Columbus Day Storm of 1962 exposed the Civil Defense system as ineffective, and in 1963, Portland withdrew from the Federal Civil Defense Administration. Within a few short years, operations at the facility saw a steady decline, and the 7 air raid sirens were promptly dismantled. (One sold at auction to a private party for a mere $60.) For a short time, the bunker was used by the Portland Police Bureau as a training center for cadets, and in 1974, it became the home of the Bureau of Emergency Communications, which fielded calls to local police agencies. It later took on medical emergency calls as well, and with the 1981 implementation of the 9-1-1 system, the BOEC effectively became a full-scale emergency dispatch.
...(An interesting side-note: In 1988, artist Henk Pander was commissioned to paint a 30’ x 75’ mural titled “Palmyra” on what was once the map wall of the Civil Defense Operations Room. The painting ironically depicted a scene of futuristic decay, of ruins at sunset, and even included tree roots which appeared to be breaking through the structure from above…)
...In the early 90’s, employees at the facility began complaining of illness, and it was determined that the underground structure had what they refer to as “Sick Building Syndrome.” The BOEC moved to a new facility in 1994, and the Kelly Butte bunker was subsequently shut down. After the closure, the site was apparently set upon by vandals and transients, and became subject to frequent break-ins, looting, and arson. In an effort to keep curious trespassers out, the city has since filled the ventilation shafts and the emergency exit with concrete and backfilled the area near the front entrance. Portland Parks and Rec. now refers to the 23-acre butte as a “natural area”, which is basically a euphemism for zero-to-minimal maintenance. The hilltop sits quietly, mysteriously in the midst of the bustling city, forlorn and forgotten…

For more details and photographs, visit: (visit link) (visit link)

...the cache itself is a quart-size container appropriately hidden below the surface near the Doomsday Staircase, just a few feet from the path. No need to dig or dismantle; Just lift the lid. Since you already climbed the hill, why not make it a two-fer? Take a walk up the trail from the upper lot and seek out roybatty’s Bunker Cache (GC19XBC)...

"This cache complies with geocaching policies for Portland Parks & Recreation properties. Please respect park hours when caching."

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44 Steps: the Doomsday Descent... Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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