Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Cold War; Morrison Knudsen
In 1948 the Federal Government sent some military officials to the San Rafael Swell to build a series of tunnels over a 300 acre area. Morrison Knudsen Corporation (MK) won the construction contract to blast the tunnels in the solid rock. It was a...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Buckhorn Draw; Cold War; Morrison Knudsen
Close up of mk16 photograph of the largest tunnel. Morrison Knudsen Tunnel project was part of the Cold War security efforts. In 1948 the Federal Government sent some military officials to the San Rafael Swell to build a series of tunnels over a...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Cold War; Morrison Knudsen
Local men were employed in this top secret project known as the Government Tunnels until recently--now referred to as MK Tunnels. The interior of the tunnels was painted white and state of the art instruments were placed within the shafts to...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Magazine Storage; Cold War
This dugout is the magazine tunnel--storage area for the TNT or other explosives used in the experiment, located in Buckhorn Draw. In 1948 the Federal Government sent some military officials to the San Rafael Swell to build a series of tunnels over...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; Buckhorn Draw; Cold War; MK Tunnels; Magazine Tunnel
The cave or tunnel used to store the explosives used in the MK Tunnel experiments. The top secret project lasted from 1948 to 1952. Not even local employees on the project knew the reasons for their work. The Department of Defence classified these...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Cold War
This photograph shows the inside of the tunnel walls. The interior of the tunnels was painted white and state of the art (1950) instruments were placed within the shafts to document the effects of the explosions. Remnants of the wiring to the...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Cold War; Morrison Knudsen
The interior of the tunnels was painted white and state of the art (1950) instruments were placed within the shafts to document the effects of the explosions. Remnants of the wiring to the instruments can still be seen in some of the tunnels, as...
Emery County (Utah); San Rafael Swell; MK Tunnels; Craters; Cold War; Morrison Knudsen
After the tunnels were created, varying amounts of TNT were set of on top of the formation to test the strength of the tunnels far beneath. Three tunnels can be seen from on top. Two of them were created by the explosives placed where the craters...