Explore JFK’s Hidden Doomsday Bunker and the Challenges of Preserving this Historic Site

Discover a piece of presidential history—the Nantucket nuclear fallout shelter. 

In November 1957, Nikita Khrushchev, Soviet Communist Party leader, issued a daring challenge to the United States. In a taunt to the government, he proudly declared the power of his nation’s long-range missiles and proposed a “peaceful rocket contest”, comparing it to a “rifle-shooting match”. 

In 1957, the world was shaken by the ominous words of Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev: “We will bury you.” Four years later, the fear of nuclear war was a looming reality for the United States. With the election of John F. Kennedy, the nation was presented with the difficult question of how to respond to the Soviet Union’s increasingly tense relationship with America. 

In May of that year, Nelson Rockefeller, chair of the Civil Defense Committee of the Conference of Governors, proposed an initiative to President Kennedy: a national fallout shelter program. Kennedy, understanding the importance of this program for the nation’s safety, secured a whopping $207 million in funding to get the project started. 

At the height of the Cold War, the threat of nuclear attack was a very real concern. As such, authorities implemented a number of measures to protect the population from the devastation of a nuclear blast. Public shelters were constructed, while citizens were encouraged to build their own shelters with government-provided instructions. 

John F. Kennedy understood that nuclear war was a real threat in 1962. In a televised speech on July 25, he encouraged families to take shelter if an attack was imminent and declared that it was the government’s responsibility to provide families with the means of protection. His administration established a fallout shelter loan program to help subsidize the construction of private bunkers. 

For decades, the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts was a symbol of the American Camelot. Home to the Kennedy Family since the 1920s, the Compound was a frequent destination for President John F. Kennedy and his first lady Jackie Kennedy, along with their two young children. 

In the face of a nuclear attack, the White House has deemed a potential target, leading to the construction of two secret bunkers. One was built on Nantucket, an island 30 miles out to sea, while the other was installed on Peanut Island, close to President Kennedy’s vacation home in Palm Beach, Florida.

The fight to save two shelters is on! Despite their current state of disrepair, there are efforts in place to protect and preserve their history. These include the possibility of transforming them into museums or securing their designation as National Historic Landmarks. 

For decades, the mysterious Tom Nevers Naval Facility on Nantucket has been shrouded in secrecy. Established in the early 1960s, the island’s 3,500 year-round residents were enticed by the intrigue of the top-secret submarine listening post. With little development around the military base, it was a seemingly isolated and otherworldly place. 

When he was just a teenager, Young had a daily mission – delivering milk to a facility. Despite delivering the necessary supplies every day, he was stopped at the guard station every single time and had to get cleared to pass. 

Discover the fascinating secrets behind Nantucket Island, located east of the continental U.S. It has a unique infrastructure that allows it to monitor ships and submarines passing through the Atlantic. 

As the Cold War loomed, President Kennedy had a plan in place in case of a nuclear attack—escape in just 30 minutes. Kennedy, his family, and 20 members of his cabinet would be quickly evacuated by submarine or helicopter to a bunker, where they would remain safe from any nuclear fallout for the first 30 days post-attack. 

Hidden beneath the wild brush of Nantucket lies the secret of President John F. Kennedy’s island bunker. Initially, the naval builders had hoped to construct the bunker underground, but due to the island’s small size, they faced a challenge. The team got creative, using prefabricated wartime structures known as Quonset Huts to craft the bunker. 

Garrett has the perfect solution to surviving a nuclear disaster – build a shelter. Not just any shelter, but one that has three feet of dirt on top to protect you from harmful radiation. You can stay in this safe haven until the radiation levels have gone down. 

Under the Providence Journal, a remarkable feat of engineering was achieved in less than two weeks. A shelter spanning 1,900 square feet, partially underground and with a simple layout, was constructed to unite a community. 

Experience a piece of Cold War history by stepping inside this nuclear bunker reminiscent of the Dr. Strangelove movie. Originally built with a decontamination chamber equipped with showers, anyone entering the bunker was to be cleansed of all nuclear materials and provided with new clothes. 

The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 was a 13-day-long standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. At the time, tensions between the two countries were high, leading to fear and distrust. The crisis was sparked when the Soviets installed nuclear-equipped missiles on the Caribbean island of Cuba, prompting the U.S. to respond in kind by putting their own missiles in Turkey. 

Despite the Cold War’s tension and threats of nuclear war, the world managed to narrowly avoid it on multiple occasions, much to the surprise of bunker builders and doomsday preppers. 

John F. Kennedy was ahead of his time when he had a fallout shelter installed on Nantucket grounds in 1961. Despite the Gallup poll finding that 93% of Americans had no plans to build their own shelters, Kennedy took no chances. While the bunker was never used, it showed he was prepared for the worst-case scenario.

For years, the abandoned bunker in Nantucket has served many purposes. It’s been used as a storage closet, a clubhouse for hunters, and a lookout point for spectators of demolition derbies held in the fields that used to be part of the naval facility. This forgotten bunker has certainly seen a lot of activity and it’s time to explore this hidden gem! 

For over 40 years, the mysterious Nantucket Bunker has been hidden beneath 26 acres of oceanfront properties. Purchased from the U.S. Navy in 1980 and tightly secured, the bunker is closed to the public and currently sits empty. Despite its protective measures, the bunker has been the target of break-in attempts, mostly by local teenagers looking for a place to hang out with their friends. 

Bruce Percelay never forgot the forgotten bunker, and now he has a plan to restore it. After publishing an article about the long-neglected site in 2018, he is determined to bring it back to life. With the help of his friend Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the 35th President, they are hoping to make the project a reality. 

Joseph Kennedy III, grandnephew of John F. Kennedy, speaks of the importance of remembering and preserving a piece of our nation’s history – the Kennedy Bunker. Built during a time of great danger, Joseph believes that preserving the bunker will be a benefit to those wanting to learn more about this period. 

Local officials in Nantucket have been in the dark since October when the National Park Service released a study that identified the Nantucket bunker as a Cold War defensive site that may be eligible for National Historic Landmark designation. Charles Polachi, parks and recreation manager for the Town of Nantucket, has revealed that no further information has been received from any federal agency since the study was released.

Cheryl Emery had a vision for rejuvenating Tom Nevers Park, but the historic bunker on its grounds posed a problem. How could she incorporate it into her plan? With a bit of creative thinking, she found the answer.