Tech

This underground bunker in Russia will let you 'nuke' the United States for $26

Dave Mosher

2015-12-07T15:24:00Z

This weekend I received a disturbing phone call from Russia.

"I was just in nuclear bunker 18 stories below Moscow," said a man on the line.

"I turned a key, pressed a button, and launched a nuclear strike on New York City. The missiles will hit you any minute."

The man was actually just a relative with a twisted sense of humor, and he was joking — sort of.

moscow nuclear bunker-42 lounge seats — A lounge in the remodeled Soviet-era nuclear bunker. Michał Huniewicz/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

He'd just finished a tour of a Cold War museum called "Bunker-42," which included a simulation of a nuclear strike targeting cities in the United States.

Although his attack was a ruse, the Russian nuclear bunker, its equipment, and Cold War history are indeed real.

Here's what it's like inside the Tagansky Protected Command Point: a top-secret Soviet facility designed to survive thermonuclear war that is now a thriving family attraction.

There is very unusual Cold War museum near the center of Moscow.

Blink and you'll miss it, though.

bunker 43 tagansky entrance moscow flickr ccbysa3 labeled.JPG

The entrance looks like a basic military checkpoint.

#coldwarmuseum #bunker42 #ссср #moscow #ussr #холоднаявойна #москва

A photo posted by Nico U-S (@nicous76) on Nov 22, 2015 at 3:40am PSTNov 22, 2015 at 3:40am PST

But it leads to an expansive, top-secret nuclear bunker built by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Bunker-42. Cold War museum. 54 meters deep.

A photo posted by Christian (@christianmontag) on Sep 3, 2015 at 2:14am PDTSep 3, 2015 at 2:14am PDT

Joseph Stalin called for the facility's construction in 1951, as the US stockpiled nuclear weapons. Workers finished the complex in 1956.

A photo posted by Dmitry Ulyanov (@dimumlik)Sep 16, 2015 at 11:57am PDT

Source: The Moscow Times

It lies 65 meters (213 feet) below the city surface, which is deep enough to survive a nuclear blast.

bunker 43 tagansky model moscow flickr ccbysa3.JPG

Source: The Moscow Times

The bunker's access tunnels, rooms, and four cavernous tubes occupy about 75,000 square feet — roughly the floor space of 35 three-bedroom homes.

A photo posted by Ярослав (@yaroslav_chita)Sep 18, 2015 at 7:00am PDT

Source: The Moscow Times

Up to 3,000 people could survive in the facility for 90 days, though it functioned primarily "as a communications headquarters for the country's leadership and military top brass."

Спрятался от дождя на глубине 65 метров))) #Moscow #Secret #bunker #bunker42 #Москва #Бункер42 #65meters #underground #coldwar #Stalin #stopwar #nonukes #pictureoftheday #photographer #lovewhatyoudo #tbt #lfl #discovery #Russiancrew

A photo posted by Russian Crew (@russiancrew) on May 15, 2015 at 7:48am PDTMay 15, 2015 at 7:48am PDT

Source: The Moscow Times

It was called the Tagansky Protected Command Point, since it connected to the Tagansky station on Moscow's Metro. Workers commuted in and out at night by subway train.

taganskaya metro subway station moscow russia jorge lascar flickr ccby2

Source: The Moscow Times

But in 2006 the Russian government sold the gutted, aging complex for 65 million Ruble (about $2.4 million) to a private company.

Вау! Где я? В #бункер42 :) Вода, стекающая с потолка, могильный холод, грохот поездов Московского #метро, мигающие лампы и #эхо...:) Бункер Сталина - противоядерный город. Признайтесь, вы мне завидуете))) #65метровподземлей #Москва #кудаgo #кудаменязанесло #развлечениямосквы #бункер #подземелье #история #Сталин #Moscow #Russia #тоннель #классноеместо

A photo posted by Юлия (@nowikowa.iu) on Jul 2, 2015 at 3:48am PDTJul 2, 2015 at 3:48am PDT

Source: The Moscow Times, Radiomuseum

"Everything more or less valuable or interesting was [gone] and we got the site in an horrific, neglected state," the company's director told the Moscow Times in 2007.

bunker 42 katie brady flickr ccby2 edited — A tunnel in the Tagansky Protected Command Point, now a family attraction called "Bunker-42." Katie Brady/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Source: The Moscow Times

Over the years, however, it was renovated into a Cold War museum and family entertainment complex called "Bunker-42."

Очень интересное место #бункер42 на Таганке! Москва умеет удивлять, спасибо @decofee за возможность удивиться) #бункер #бомбоубежище #таганка #сталин #ядернаявойна #наслучайвойны #главныйштаб

A photo posted by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀►ΔΞΝIS ΤIΚΗΘΜIRΘV◄⠀⠀⠀⠀ (@denis_ti) on Nov 30, 2015 at 8:34am PSTNov 30, 2015 at 8:34am PST

It's now filled with authentic Cold War-era artifacts...

На наших экскурсиях вы можете почуствовать себя настоящим связистом в одном из самых засекреченных бункеров Советского Союза #бункер #бункер42 #bunker42 #бункернатаганке #экскурсии #экскурсия #связь #ссср #советскийсоюз #бункер

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on May 26, 2015 at 7:57am PDTMay 26, 2015 at 7:57am PDT

Для тех, кто ищет друзей, знакомьтесь - Василий! Уж если др решите у нас отпраздновать,Василий вас научит,как правильно отпраздновать такое событие ;) #likes #more #birthday #bunker #bunker42 #coldwarmuseum #museum # Москва #Россия #бункер #бункер42 #таганка #выходной #музей #инстафото #followme #holiday #spring #funny #instafoto #TagsForLikes #instafollow #likeforlike

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on May 15, 2014 at 6:03am PDTMay 15, 2014 at 6:03am PDT

Hardware...

A photo posted by Liza Pougina (@pougina)Nov 7, 2015 at 4:27am PST

Кто хочет нажать на красную кнопку? Девушка,проходите📣🚨

A photo posted by _Darin_ (@darinovblue15) on Nov 15, 2015 at 2:18pm PSTNov 15, 2015 at 2:18pm PST

...And decorations.

Вот такой вот советский перл))

A photo posted by Максим Максимовский (@maximovsky) on Jun 21, 2015 at 6:00am PDTJun 21, 2015 at 6:00am PDT

Бункер 42, 18 этажей под землёй, бункер Сталина. #бункер42 #отдыхатьнеработать #унасотпускдаонвмоскве

A photo posted by Lubov Mamaeva (@lubov1111) on Nov 10, 2015 at 12:17pm PSTNov 10, 2015 at 12:17pm PST

"Don't you fucking try it" or something like that ✌🏼️😁 #СССР

A photo posted by Victor Rybkin (@victorybki) on Aug 20, 2015 at 11:49am PDTAug 20, 2015 at 11:49am PDT

Назад в прошлое! #Москва #Россия #бункер #бункер42 #таганка #выходной #музей #инстафото #followme #holiday #spring #ленин

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on Apr 14, 2014 at 2:39am PDTApr 14, 2014 at 2:39am PDT

The full "TOP SECRET" tour costs 1,800 Ruble (about $26) per person.

#Москва #Россия #Таганская #бункер_Сталина #Сталин #документ #секретно #moscow #russia #Stalin #document #top #secret #top_secret

A photo posted by @dmitry_mskzbl on Feb 6, 2014 at 5:55am PSTFeb 6, 2014 at 5:55am PST

You enter the bunker through "blast doors designed to close from the shockwave of a nuclear blast," said my relative who went on the tour.

#неспокойнойночитв

A photo posted by Anastasia Borisova (@an_borisova) on Aug 20, 2015 at 11:15am PDTAug 20, 2015 at 11:15am PDT

"Just inside the blast doors was a decontamination area," he said. "Soldiers could be decontaminated and given new clothes before entering the stairwell."

A photo posted by @pingvinochka88Jun 22, 2015 at 1:54pm PDT

Then you walk down 18 flights of stairs...

И связи нет... #Бункер #бункер42 #бункерсталина #полпути #Москва #Moscow #таганка #taganskaya #Russia #МГУП #мгупдня #day #goodday

A photo posted by vvitas (@vvitas) on Nov 22, 2015 at 4:50am PSTNov 22, 2015 at 4:50am PST

...Until you reach a security desk at the bottom.

Итак, Д-6.

A photo posted by Alex (@angelove2005) on Nov 16, 2015 at 8:44am PSTNov 16, 2015 at 8:44am PST

"Then a long hallway leads to all four primary bunker 'tubes.'"

Когда соберётесь в #бункер42 не забудьте морально подготовиться к тому, что на глубину 65 м и обратно нужно будет топать самостоятельно по лестнице😏 В целом интересно и занятно, в конце бежишь по коридору под вой сирен и объявление начала третьей мировой. Как бонус могут дать спустить ядерную бомбу на какую-нибудь маленькую страну👌

A photo posted by alina_aleshina (@alina_aleshina) on Nov 27, 2015 at 6:41am PSTNov 27, 2015 at 6:41am PST

-18 этаж🙄

A photo posted by @a_chasovskih on Nov 25, 2015 at 11:52am PSTNov 25, 2015 at 11:52am PST

Спускаться было весело на -18 этаж ..спасибо ,что поднялись обратно🎖 c @valeryguseva #moscow#ночьискусств2015

A photo posted by Anastasia (@anastasia_pushkareva) on Nov 3, 2015 at 1:10pm PSTNov 3, 2015 at 1:10pm PST

"During the tour, they show you a film about the nuclear arms race during the Cold War," my relative told me. "It's slightly nationalistic, depicting the atomic bomb drops in Japan as shows of force instead of a way to end the war with minimal casualties."

Часть экскурсии, 30-ти минутный документальный фильм о российско-американской ядерной конфронтации. Очень увлекательный для мужчин и очень усыпляющий для меня 😝 #Moscow #Autumn2015 #moments #memories #excursion #movie #bunker42

A video posted by Шиганова Дарья (@sladkiysirnik) on Nov 10, 2015 at 8:15am PSTNov 10, 2015 at 8:15am PST

The film also paints former Soviet leaders Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin as traitors for "agreeing to American demands" that Russia dismantle many of its nukes and bunkers in the 1990s.

Прогулки по Москве #москва #моямосква #таганка #5классА #5класс #школа1613 #экскурсия #бункернатаганке #бункер42 #прогулкипомоскве

A photo posted by Irina (@ivaki_sava) on Nov 14, 2015 at 7:29am PSTNov 14, 2015 at 7:29am PST

After the movie, he says, "the tour shows you what it would have been like during a nuclear attack, with only red flashing lights to conserve energy."

Спустился на восемнадцать этажей под землю, чтобы посмотреть противорадиационный бункер номер 42 на Таганке. В конце была такая развлекалочка: заходишь в тоннель, сзади неожиданно и громко закрывается дверь, потом гаснет свет и включается звук. Страшновато и весело! Голос сообщает, что на Москву напали, бункер закрылся, и щас мы нашими ракетами врагу Кузькину мать покажем.

A video posted by Roman (@rmnbn) on Sep 12, 2015 at 10:02am PDTSep 12, 2015 at 10:02am PDT

You can also play the part of a Soviet communications operator...

#радисткаирэн или #деньмузеев удался

A photo posted by Irina Chizhkova (@mrs.chizhkova) on Nov 15, 2015 at 9:32am PSTNov 15, 2015 at 9:32am PST

...And try on authentic Soviet military outfits.

bunker 42 gas mask katie brady flickr ccby2

But the most eerie part of the tour is near the end.

#bunker42 #taganka #Moscow

A photo posted by Anastasia Aleeva-Szakal (@bread_and_games) on Sep 1, 2015 at 10:57am PDTSep 1, 2015 at 10:57am PDT

Your tour group takes control of a nuclear launch console. You target a US city, turn two keys simultaneously to arm an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), then press a button to "launch" it.

That's how the world could have been destroyed entirely with a turn of a key and a push of a button 🔌 #deepthougts 🚀💥🌇🎴

A photo posted by Victor Rybkin (@victorybki) on Aug 20, 2015 at 11:40am PDTAug 20, 2015 at 11:40am PDT

Immediately afterward, a projector plays clips from "The Sum of all Fears" on the wall. The the in-character tour guide "thanked me for my service 'to our socialist republic'" for pressing the launch button, he says.

макет первой советской атомной бомбы

A photo posted by AK (@ak19740) on Jun 27, 2015 at 11:00am PDTJun 27, 2015 at 11:00am PDT

A real ICBM would take just 33 minutes to travel from Russia, fly over the Arctic, and hit US targets.

A photo posted by Marine Natrium (@heyglassneedle)Sep 28, 2015 at 2:34am PDT

Source: The Heritage Foundation

But Bunker-42 is not all doom-and-gloom. There are other areas with different attractions.

#бункер42 #бункер

A photo posted by Elena Abramova (@abramovaeg) on Apr 26, 2015 at 11:23am PDTApr 26, 2015 at 11:23am PDT

One area of a tube now functions as a ritzy party venue.

A photo posted by Anastasiya (@aberezovskaya)Dec 3, 2015 at 9:53am PST

It's not unusual for Stalin to make an appearance.

Товарищ Сталин собственной персоной ! Кого еще можно встретить в закоулках Бункера? Приходите и узнайте сами ;) #bunker #bunker42 #bunkerontaganka #stalin #russia #moscow #undergraund #fun #hello #winter #military #ussr #party #pioner #old #gun #бункер #бункер42 #сталин #экскурсия #др #интересно #ссср #праздник #ждем #вас #вперед #ура

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on Jan 21, 2015 at 11:50pm PSTJan 21, 2015 at 11:50pm PST

Or for Leonid Brezhnev to show up.

#Брежнев наведался к нам в гости,остался доволен, обещал вернуться. #бункер #бункер42 #селебрити #праздник #ссср #пионер #пионеры товарищ #корпоратив #интересно #банкет #USSR #bunker #bunker42 #Russia #Moscow #Moscowcity #hbd #holiday #fun #instafoto #cool #history #man #back #time

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on Dec 10, 2014 at 5:22am PSTDec 10, 2014 at 5:22am PST

Children can also have birthday parties 18 stories beneath Moscow.

#праздник #дети #веселье #радость #bunker42 #шарики всегда вызывают задорный детский #смех . Тем более, если ими украшено помещение в #деньрождения в #бункер42

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on Sep 24, 2015 at 6:59am PDTSep 24, 2015 at 6:59am PDT

They can eat military cakes...

#бункер42 #bunker42 #праздник #дети #событие #москва #таганка Вкусный #торт залог хорошего празднования детского праздника. Особенно если это #деньрождения .

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on Sep 21, 2015 at 1:43am PDTSep 21, 2015 at 1:43am PDT

Don military uniforms...

#bunker42 #бункер42натаганке #москва #moscow #праздник Свой #деньрождения отважные бойцы празднуют только в солдатских условиях, а именно в #бункер42! Мы еще раз поздравляем со знаменательным событием именинника и ждем его с друзьями снова в гости!

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on Sep 11, 2015 at 9:58am PDTSep 11, 2015 at 9:58am PDT

...And handle military weapons.

Всех пограничников с праздником! Приходите к нам праздновать это событие ;) #Москва #Россия #бункер #бункер42 #таганка #выходной #музей #инстафото #followme #holiday #summer #coldwar #like #party #children #happy #gun

A photo posted by Bunker-42 (@bunker42nataganke) on May 28, 2014 at 12:31am PDTMay 28, 2014 at 12:31am PDT

Other areas of the bunker can be rented, too. In October 2015 a clothing brand called Darkdron hosted a rather unusual event in an undeveloped tube.

#DarkDron was #fun serious #fc/dc

A photo posted by Ch3rryDrunk (@ch3rrydrunk) on Sep 5, 2015 at 4:11am PDTSep 5, 2015 at 4:11am PDT

Models staged a dystopian fashion show in the nuclear bunker.

#darkdrone

A photo posted by Olga Kovaleva (@oljalolja) on Sep 4, 2015 at 12:32pm PDTSep 4, 2015 at 12:32pm PDT

People got in without an RSVP, but they were locked in and couldn't leave for an hour, wrote fashion site Dazed.

@sasha_melnychuk and @darkdron_com @gioforfex show!!!! Makeup and hairstyle #katemur @ellisfaascosmetics @urbantriberussia

A video posted by Makeup Artist Kate Mur (@muakatemur) on Sep 4, 2015 at 12:55pm PDTSep 4, 2015 at 12:55pm PDT

Source: Dazed

"[A]ll you can do is wander in the dark, occasionally meeting models who look more like lost kids from some dark cyberpunk movie."

#Darkdron

A photo posted by @sashamademuaselle on Sep 4, 2015 at 11:41am PDTSep 4, 2015 at 11:41am PDT

Source: Dazed

Many other undeveloped areas at Bunker-42 are just waiting to become the next subterranean attraction.

En el centro de Moscú, escondido entre casas y el Metro, se encuentra uno de los búnkers de Stalin abierto para recorrerlo #mosquarium #Москва #Moscow #Pоссия #Russia 🇷🇺

A photo posted by Andres Duran (@afrdr) on Aug 10, 2015 at 1:33pm PDTAug 10, 2015 at 1:33pm PDT

We can't wait to find out what post-Cold War vision they become next.

Moscow Tourism Russia